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LG Crisis: NULGE Recognises Osun PDP Council Officials, Asks Tinubu To Call AGF To Order

ByOlamilekan Adigun

PublishedJune 26, 2025

Calls For Release Of Withheld LG Allocations

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has urged President Bola Tinubu to call the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, to order following a letter directing the opening of local government accounts for the purportedly reinstated All Progressives Congress Yes or No council officials in Osun State.

This was as the union called for the release of the withheld Osun State Local Government Allocation from March 2025 till date to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Council Officials.

NULGE National President, Comrade Aliyu Kankara while addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, accused the AGF of surreptitious move to supplant extant law and place the running of the accounts of Osun State local governments in the hands of impostors who are not recognised by the law.

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He said a letter dated June 10, 2025, signed by one Okolie Rita from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, directing that any two of the Chairmen, Treasurers, or Directors of Finance and Administration or Personnel Management in each of the Local Governments in Osun State should endorse an application letter for the opening and maintenance of the accounts earlier opened by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for each of the Local Governments “is an aberration and in contravention with the law on Local Government Fiscal Autonomy.”

According to him, only those recognised by the law as signatories to Local Government accounts are the Director of Finance and Supplies and Director of Administration and General Services with the Local Government Chairmen and Heads of Local Government Administration to countersign for confirmation.

Kankara added that the elected PDP council officers are the legitimate Chairmen and Councillors according to the Appeal Court Judgement of 13th June 2025.

According to him, “Some State actors of creating atmosphere of discord and throwing clogs in the wheel of progress of Osun State Local Governments by working in contravention of the judgement of July 14th, 2024 on Local Government Fiscal Autonomy where the Central Bank of Nigeria refused to respect the Supreme Court judgement on direct payment of the Local Government Allocation to their respective Accounts.

“As a Union, we are embarrassed, to say the least, by this surreptitious move to supplant extant law and place the running of the accounts of Osun State Local Governments in the hands of impostors who are not recognized by the law.

“We are therefore inviting the attention of all well-meaning Nigerians particularly, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to this affront on the law, barefaced attempts to rubbish his legacies, most especially the same battle you fought and won as a Governor of Lagos State some years ago.

“This intention and unscrupulous efforts of the saboteurs tends to deny the good people of Osun State of the abundant benefits derivable from the Local Government Fiscal Autonomy which has not only endeared the Tinubu Government to the masses but has also brought the dividends of good governance to the grassroots.

“Additionally, we call on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to recognise any intending signatories to the Local Governments Accounts in Osun State other than career officers who are designated as DFAS & DGSAs as enshrined in the Local Government Financial Memorandum and Approved guidelines for the Administration of Local Government Areas in Osun State.

“We, therefore, appeal passionately to the Governor of CBN, Minister of Finance,, and Accountant General of Federation to as a matter of urgency work together and ensure the release of the withheld Osun State Local Government Allocation from January 2025 to date to the legitimate Local Government Officers as delivered by the Appeal Court Judgement of 13th June 2025 at Akure by Honorable Justice Peter Chudi Obiorah, JCA affirming the tenure of the democratically elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Local Government Chairmen in Osun State (CTC).”

Kankara urged the AGF to reconsider his earlier stand and be properly guided by the law.

The NULGE boss also appealed to the CBN not to recognize any intending signatories to the Local government accounts in Osun State other than career officers who are designated as enshrined in the Local Government Financial Memorandum and Approved guidelines.

“We are also enjoining the Accountant General of the Federation from whose office the letter of 10th June 2024 emerged to reconsider the stand of his office and be properly guided by the law on this issue.

“We state for the umpteenth time that the spirit and letter of the law does not leave signatories to the Local Governments Accounts open, but emphatically restricts the signatories to Director of Finance and Supply & Director of General Services and Administrations, with Local Government Chairmen and Heads of Local Government Administration to confirm all the payments,” he added.

Olamilekan Adigun

Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.