Tinubu Urged to Release Withheld Osun Council Funds

The editorial urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the withheld local council funds in Osun State, which have been frozen by the federal government. This situation arises from a political struggle between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the local government elections in October 2022.

The Supreme Court ruled that the seizure of council funds constitutes a grave constitutional breach, ordering that funds be allocated directly to local accounts without delay. Despite this, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has withheld these funds pending the resolution of local government disputes.

As of March to August 2025, a total of 73.7 billion naira is due to the 30 local government areas in Osun State. The editorial highlights the detrimental impact of this financial impasse on public services, including salary payments for teachers and health workers, and calls for dialogue to resolve the ongoing political conflict.