Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN
By John Dike, Osogbo
The House of Representatives minority caucus has threatened appropriate legislative action over the seized statutory federal allocations to local governments in Osun State.
It called on the Federal Government to immediately release the withheld funds, asking President Bola Tinubu to direct all relevant agencies to comply with constitutional provisions and multiple court rulings mandating the disbursement of the funds, which have allegedly been withheld since February 2025.
The caucus, led by Minority Leader Rep. O.K. Chinda, along with Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Isa (Minority Whip), Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki (Deputy Minority Leader), and Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi (Deputy Minority Whip), described the prolonged non-disbursement as a serious threat to grassroots governance.
It said in a statement, “The withholding of these allocations is not only unconstitutional but also a blatant disregard for the rule of law and judicial decisions.”
Titled “Let Osun LGAs Breathe,” the statement emphasized that Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees local governments their share of revenue from the Federation Account.
The lawmakers also cited a landmark Supreme Court judgment in A.G. Lagos State vs. A.G. Federation (2004), which ruled that the President lacks the authority to withhold or suspend funds due to local governments.
According to the caucus, various court rulings—including judgments from the Court of Appeal on February 10 and June 13, 2025, and from the Osun State High Court on February 21, 2025—have affirmed the legitimacy of PDP-elected local government officials and their right to access and manage these funds.
“The continued withholding of these funds undermines local government autonomy, weakens our federal structure, and erodes public trust in democratic institutions. It also sets a dangerous precedent for impunity,” the caucus warned.
They further highlighted the adverse economic impact, noting that unpaid salaries and pensions, halted healthcare and education services, and suspended infrastructure projects are hurting citizens and crippling local economies.
