NANS Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention in Osun Local Government Funding Dispute

NANS Southwest Zone D has urged President Tinubu to release over ₦200bn in withheld Osun local government allocations and resolve the funding dispute.

The students’ body made the appeal in an open letter to the President following the conclusion of the August 15, 2026 governorship election in the state, urging the Federal Government to shift attention from political differences to governance and grassroots development.

NANS claimed that more than ₦200 billion in local government allocations had accumulated as withheld funds by the middle of 2026. The association argued that the continued financial dispute was affecting the ability of local councils to provide essential services to residents.

For NANS, the issue extends beyond local government administration because the councils directly serve communities where thousands of students live and study.

The association noted that the financial capacity of local governments has implications for road maintenance, sanitation, healthcare, water supply, security, youth development and other services that affect students and tertiary institutions across the state.

NANS Southwest Zone D Coordinator, Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, urged President Tinubu to use the post-election period to address the matter and ensure that political disagreements do not continue to undermine grassroots development.

The association also called on relevant federal institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, to resolve the administrative and legal issues surrounding the funds.

According to NANS, releasing the funds would strengthen local governance and enable councils to resume or improve the delivery of services that directly affect communities and young people.

The demand comes against the background of a prolonged dispute over control of Osun’s local government structures and the corresponding statutory allocations. The Supreme Court has previously criticised the withholding of the councils’ funds, with the apex court directing that the allocations be channelled directly to the local government accounts.

Earlier records reviewed by different reports showed that billions of naira in allocations had accumulated during the period of the dispute, with the withheld funds becoming a major issue in the state’s governance and political affairs.

NANS said the conclusion of the governorship election should provide an opportunity for all parties to move beyond political contests and focus on the welfare of citizens.

For students, the association maintained that effective grassroots governance is closely connected to the quality of the environment in which they study and live. Poor roads, inadequate sanitation, weak healthcare services and insecurity can all affect students’ ability to attend classes, undertake academic activities and complete their programmes successfully.

The students’ body therefore urged the Federal Government and Osun State authorities to prioritise a resolution of the dispute in the interest of residents, local institutions and the wider development of the state.

NANS’ intervention adds a student voice to the continuing debate over the withheld allocations, with the association insisting that local government funding should ultimately translate into services and development that improve the lives of citizens at the grassroots.