By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State House of Assembly on Friday passed the Osun State Local Government Accounts Administration Bill, 2025—marking a major milestone in strengthening financial governance and transparency across the state’s 30 local government areas and area councils.
The legislation regulates the opening, management, and operation of Local Government Accounts in line with Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers state assemblies to legislate on local government finances.
The bill aims to enhance accountability, prevent financial mismanagement, and ensure strict compliance with statutory fiscal procedures at the grassroots level.
Under the new framework, signatory authority on all Local Government Accounts will now rest exclusively with the Directors of Finance and the Directors of Administration and General Services of the respective councils.
The bill also expressly prohibits political office holders and their appointees from serving as signatories to these accounts—a move widely regarded as an effort to curb undue political interference in local government finances.
Following the passage of the bill, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Honourable Adewale Egbedun, announced that a clean copy would be transmitted to the Governor for assent.
Once signed into law, the legislation is expected to promote greater financial prudence, strengthen institutional integrity, and enhance service delivery across Osun State’s grassroots administrations.
