Osun APC Kicks Against House Of Assembly’s LG Account Control Bill Speaker Says APC’s Allegations Are Unfounded
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised the bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly seeking to tighten control over local council bank accounts, saying that it is contrary to the Supreme Court judgment that granted autonomy to the Local Governments in the country.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party accused the Assembly of attempting to undermine the apex court’s ruling through what it termed backdoor legislative actions.
The party, therefore, urged the lawmakers to desist from enacting laws that could weaken the independence of the local government.
The Assembly had passed the Osun State Local Government (Amendment No. 2) Bill, 2026, introducing additional rules and oversight measures over local council accounts.
The bill was adopted following the presentation of a report by the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Rasheed, who represents Osogbo State Constituency.
The APC described the development as disturbing, alleging that the legislature was devising means to frustrate the autonomy granted to local governments by the Supreme Court,
According to Olabisi, the essence of any law lies in its enforceability, warning that legislation, which cannot be implemented, would amount to a waste of legislative effort.
The party, which maintained that the move undermines the spirit and intent of the apex court’s judgement on local council autonomy, therefore, called on the Assembly to reconsider the legislation and align its actions with constitutional provisions and judicial pronouncements.
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Reacting to the APC claims, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun said the allegations were unfounded and borne out of what he described as desperation.
This was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu.
“We have the mandate of the people of Osun State to legislate. That responsibility cannot and will not be surrendered because of partisan pressure,” the Speaker said.
“Our duty is to ensure peace, order and good governance, and that includes strengthening accountability mechanisms where necessary.”
Egbedun clarified that the Supreme Court judgement does not invalidate the constitutional powers of state legislatures over local government administration.
“The Supreme Court judgement does not erase Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. That section expressly empowers state Houses of Assembly to make laws for the proper administration of local governments. Autonomy does not translate into absence of legislative oversight,” he said.
According to him, the amendment was designed to promote transparency and prevent administrative errors in the handling of public funds at the grassroots, not to seize control of local government finances.
The Speaker described the APC’s condemnation of the bill as premature and unnecessary, arguing that the opposition had failed to properly examine the provisions of the amendment before issuing its statement.
“It is surprising that they have not even seen the specific column that was amended or taken time to understand the purpose behind it, yet they rushed to the press with sweeping accusations. That approach reflects a lack of adequate knowledge and due diligence,” he said.
Egbedun further suggested that the reaction of the opposition party raised concerns about its true intentions,. adding that: “Their outburst only exposes desperation and a tendency to politicise every legislative effort.”
“Instead of constructive engagement, they have chosen sensationalism. It makes one wonder whether the real fear is the prevention of any opportunity to misappropriate public funds.”
He urged the APC to exercise restraint, thoroughly study the contents of the amendment, and always approach the House of Assembly for clarification on any grey areas observed in laws passed by the legislature rather than resorting to public speculation.
“Opposition is an essential part of democracy, but it must be responsible and informed. We advise them to desist from making statements without adequate knowledge of the issues at hand. Where there are concerns or ambiguities, the proper step is to seek clarification from the House in the interest of truth and the people of Osun State,” Egbedun added.
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
