The National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest Zone D, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for the 30 local government areas of Osun State.
The students’ body made the appeal in an open letter to the President on Tuesday, days after the August 15, 2026, governorship election in the state.
The letter, signed by the Coordinator of NANS Southwest Zone D, Adeyemo Josiah, urged Tinubu to use the outcome of the election as an opportunity to resolve the long-running dispute over the local government funds.
NANS said Governor Ademola Adeleke had won re-election and that President Tinubu had congratulated him on his victory, arguing that political differences should now give way to governance and development.
“We believe this presents an opportunity for a new chapter,” the students said.
The group said the conclusion of the election should pave the way for the Federal Government and the state to address outstanding issues affecting the people of Osun.
“The election is over. Political differences should now give way to governance and development,” it added.
NANS urged the President to extend what it described as the democratic spirit demonstrated during the election to the issue of statutory allocations belonging to the state’s local governments.
According to the students, available public records showed that more than N200 billion in statutory allocations had accumulated as withheld funds by the middle of 2026, with further monthly allocations expected to accrue.
The association said the continued withholding of the money was not simply a political or administrative disagreement because local governments were directly responsible for many services that affect the daily lives of residents.
“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,” the group said.
NANS said students were among those affected when local governments lacked the resources needed to maintain basic infrastructure and provide essential services.
It noted that many tertiary institutions were located in local government areas where students depended on surrounding communities for housing, transport, water, sanitation, security and other basic needs.
The students therefore argued that restoring the local government allocations would have a direct impact on the quality of life in communities hosting universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions.
NANS called on Tinubu to direct relevant federal institutions to address any outstanding legal or administrative obstacles preventing the release of the funds.
It also urged the authorities to ensure that any money released to the local governments was transferred through a lawful, transparent and accountable process.
The students stressed that the issue should be handled in a manner that would protect the constitutional status and functions of local governments.
The call comes against the backdrop of continuing national debate over the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Local governments are constitutionally recognised as the third tier of government and are expected to provide services and promote development at the grassroots.
However, the management and disbursement of local government funds have remained controversial for years, with disputes often arising over the relationship between state governments and their local councils.
The issue of local government autonomy has also featured prominently in recent national discussions on improving grassroots governance and ensuring that funds meant for local communities are used for their intended purposes.
NANS Southwest said Osun State should not be excluded from efforts to strengthen local government administration and grassroots development.
The association also called on the local government authorities to demonstrate accountability if the withheld funds were eventually released.
It said the money should translate into visible development, especially in communities hosting tertiary institutions.
According to the students, the release of the funds would only achieve its purpose if local governments used them to address pressing needs in their communities.
They listed roads, sanitation, healthcare, water supply, security and youth development among the areas that should receive attention.
The group warned against turning the expected release of the allocations into a political victory for any individual or political party.
It said the funds belonged to the people and should be used for public development rather than political interests.
“The release of the funds should not be viewed as a victory for any political party or individual,” the association said.
NANS also appealed directly to Tinubu to allow constitutional principles and grassroots democracy to guide the resolution of the matter.
“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,” it said.
“Let politics give way to governance. Let the funds reach the people.”
The students described the release of the allocations as an opportunity to strengthen constitutional governance and improve development at the local level.
They said the move would not amount to favouring the Adeleke administration or any political party but would instead be an effort to ensure that public funds reached the level of government closest to the people.
“Let the funds reach the people,” NANS repeated, stressing that local communities should be the ultimate beneficiaries.
The association said the development of local governments was particularly important for young people because many of them live, study and work within local communities.
It added that better-funded local governments would be in a stronger position to support youth development programmes, maintain public facilities and create an environment conducive to education and economic activities.
The students also called on Osun’s local government authorities to prepare for the responsible use of the funds should the Federal Government resolve the matter.
They urged them to ensure that projects and services were based on the actual needs of their communities and that residents could see the impact of the money.
NANS Southwest said transparency and accountability should therefore accompany any release of the allocations.
The association’s appeal followed the conclusion of the Osun governorship election, which saw Adeleke emerge victorious and secure another term in office.
The election attracted significant political attention, with the contest involving the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress and other political parties.
Tinubu subsequently congratulated Adeleke on his victory, a development NANS described as an opportunity for political differences to give way to cooperation and governance.
The students said the President’s congratulatory message demonstrated the need for all sides to move beyond the election and focus on issues affecting the people.
For NANS, one of the most urgent issues requiring attention is the release of the local government allocations.
The group concluded that releasing the funds would be more than a political gesture, describing it as “a victory for constitutional governance, local government development and the people of Osun State.”
It urged the Federal Government to act promptly and ensure that the people of the state, particularly communities that depend heavily on local government services, begin to feel the impact of the funds.