The students’ body says releasing withheld local government allocations would strengthen grassroots development after the Osun governorship election
The National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest Zone D, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the continued withholding of statutory allocations belonging to the 30 local government areas of Osun State, saying the funds are critical to grassroots development.
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The students’ body made the appeal in an open letter to President Tinubu on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, three days after the Osun State governorship election in which Governor Ademola Adeleke secured re-election.
The letter, signed by NANS Southwest Zone D Coordinator, Adeyemo Josiah, described the election as an opportunity for the state to begin a new chapter focused on governance and development.
“We believe this presents an opportunity for a new chapter,” the students said.
NANS noted that Tinubu had congratulated Adeleke on his electoral victory and urged the President to extend what it described as the democratic spirit displayed after the election to the unresolved dispute over local government allocations.
“The election is over. Political differences should now give way to governance and development,” the group said.
According to NANS, public records indicated that more than ₦200 billion in statutory allocations had accumulated as withheld funds by the middle of 2026, with additional allocations expected to accrue monthly.
The students argued that the Osun local government funds issue extends beyond political disagreements because councils represent the tier of government closest to campuses and communities where many students live and study.
“For us as students, this is not merely a political or administrative dispute.
Local governments are the closest tier of government to our campuses and host communities, and their financial capacity directly affects roads, sanitation, healthcare, water supply, security, youth development and other services upon which students also depend,” NANS said.
The appeal comes against the backdrop of a wider constitutional and political dispute over the administration and funding of local governments in Nigeria.
The Supreme Court ruled in July 2024 that state governments should no longer receive, withhold or utilise funds allocated to local government councils, reinforcing the constitutional independence of the third tier of government.
The Federal Government subsequently began implementing a system aimed at ensuring allocations are paid directly to recognised local government councils, although disputes over council leadership and the status of elected officials have continued to complicate implementation in some states.
NANS Southwest called on Tinubu to direct relevant federal institutions to address any outstanding legal or administrative obstacles preventing the funds from reaching the councils.
The students stressed that any release should be carried out through a lawful, transparent and accountable process.
They also challenged the local governments to ensure that any funds eventually received translate into visible improvements, particularly in communities hosting tertiary institutions.
For the students, better-funded councils could have a direct impact on everyday conditions around campuses, from road maintenance and sanitation to water supply, security and basic healthcare.
NANS also sought to separate the allocation issue from partisan politics, saying the release of the funds should not be presented as a victory for any political party or individual.
“Mr President, the people have spoken through the ballot. We respectfully appeal that the Constitution and the principles of grassroots democracy should also be allowed to prevail,” the group said.
“Let politics give way to governance. Let the funds reach the people.”
The students described the potential release of the allocations as “a victory for constitutional governance, local government development and the people of Osun State”.
Their intervention comes as attention shifts from the Osun election campaign to the responsibilities of governance, with the students arguing that political competition should give way to practical measures capable of improving living conditions across the state.
For NANS Southwest, resolving the allocation dispute would therefore represent more than the release of accumulated funds.
It would be a significant test of how constitutional principles governing local administration translate into tangible benefits for communities.
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The body urged the Federal Government and local authorities to prioritise accountability throughout the process, arguing that residents should ultimately be able to see the impact of public funds in the communities where they live, work and study.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
