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The minority Caucus of the Chamber of Representatives has again invited the Federal Government to immediately release legal allocations due to the councils of the local government in the state of Osun, warning that the failure to do the foul would build legislators to resort to legislative measures.
In a new declaration issued on Sunday, Caucus urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directing all the agencies interested in respecting the constitutional provisions and judgments of the court by releasing the funds, which presumably have been retained since February 2025.
Caucus, led by the minority leader Rep. Ok Chinda, together with Rt. Hon. Dr Ali Isa (minority Whip), Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki (deputy leader of minorities) and Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi (deputy minority vice white), expressed concern about the fact that the prolonged deduction of allocations had immersed workers, pensioners and families in economic difficulties while they were blocking the basic development through Osun’s advice.
Quoting from their statement entitled “Let Osun Lgas Breathe”, the legislators said:
“The withholding tax at the source of these allocations is not only unconstitutional, but also a clear contempt for the rule of law and judicial declarations. Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution is clear that local governments are named after their check by the Federation.
The Caucus also observed that multiple judgments of the Court – including those of the Court of Appeal (10 February and 13 June 2025) and the upper Court of the State of Osun (February 21, 2025) – had affirmed the legitimacy of the elected officials of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) to manage allocations.
“The continuous deduction of these funds undermines the autonomy of the local government, weakens the federal structure of Nigeria, Herod the trust of the public in democratic institutions and establishes a dangerous precedent for impunity,” Caucus warned.
By highlighting the economic impact, legislators stressed that salaries, pensions, health care, education and infrastructure projects had been paralyzed, with small businesses and local economies suffering from reduced purchasing power.
They urged the federal government to act quickly in the interest of justice and governance.
“We ask the president and commander in chief to immediately direct all the relevant authorities to issue all the funds intended for the councils of the local government in the state of Osun without further delays,” said Caucus, adding that he would not hesitate to distribute legislative actions if the situation persists.
