NULGE Alleges Illegal Osun LG Fund Payments, APC Dismisses Claims
NULGE Alleges Illegal Osun LG Fund Payments, APC Dismisses Claims
The Osun State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has accused the Federal Government of illegally releasing six months’ worth of local government allocations into accounts allegedly operated by officials elected during the October 15, 2022 council polls.
Addressing journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, NULGE Chairman, Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, said the funds were wrongfully disbursed into accounts opened by chairmen and councillors elected under the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. According to him, this action was a breach of due process, as several legal cases challenging the legitimacy of those council officials remain pending in court.
Ogungbangbe alleged that top Federal Government officials were complicit in facilitating the questionable transactions, describing the move as “an abuse of power” and “a deliberate attempt to undermine the rule of law.”
“It is unlawful for funds meant for the people at the grassroots to be diverted to accounts under dispute in the courts. This undermines transparency, accountability, and the rights of the people,” the NULGE chairman said.
The union leader further urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to intervene and ensure that funds meant for local governments in Osun are properly channelled through legitimate authorities.
However, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) swiftly dismissed the allegations, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.
In a statement issued by the party’s spokesperson, Mr. Kola Olabisi, the APC maintained that the disbursements were lawful, insisting that the local government executives elected in 2022 remained the authentic custodians of council administration at the time.
Olabisi accused the union of playing into the hands of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, adding that the allegations were part of a smear campaign aimed at discrediting the achievements of the Oyetola administration.
The controversy adds to ongoing disputes over the management of local government funds in Osun State, an issue that has been the subject of multiple litigations and political confrontations since the PDP assumed power in November 2022.
