Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees Raises Alarm Over Osun LG Funds Hijack

Strategic Insights -

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has expressed concern over a purported plot to hijack Local Government funds in Osun State, warning of possible action if impostors are allowed to operate LG accounts. The union's president, Aliyu Kankara, criticized the Federal Government for failing to implement the 2024 Supreme Court judgment on Local Government financial autonomy, while also urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what it called a coordinated sabotage of a reform he championed as Lagos Governor. The union is seeking the release of all withheld Osun LG allocations from January 2025 to date, in compliance with the Court of Appeal ruling delivered on June 13, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has raised concerns over a plot to hijack Local Government funds in Osun State, urging the Federal Government to implement the 2024 Supreme Court judgment on Local Government financial autonomy.
  • NULGE's president, Aliyu Kankara, warned of possible action if impostors are allowed to operate Local Government accounts, stating that the union will not fold its arms in the face of this threat.
  • Kankara criticized the Federal Government for refusing to enforce the Supreme Court judgment, which declared that Local Government allocations must be paid directly to councils, not through state-controlled joint accounts.
  • The union is seeking the release of all withheld Osun LG allocations from January 2025 to date, in compliance with the Court of Appeal ruling delivered on June 13, 2025.
  • NULGE's president, Kankara, urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what it called a coordinated sabotage of a reform he championed as Lagos Governor.
  • Kankara commended members of the union in Osun for their resilience, urging them to remain calm as the union continues to seek a lawful resolution.

Statistics:

  • 2024: The year in which the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government financial autonomy was delivered.
  • July 14, 2024: The date of the Supreme Court judgment that declared Local Government allocations must be paid directly to councils, not through state-controlled joint accounts.
  • January 2025: The month in which Osun LG allocations were withheld, allegedly by impostors seeking to hijack the funds.
  • June 13, 2025: The date on which the Court of Appeal ruling was delivered, affirming the tenure of the elected PDP LG Chairmen in Osun State.
  • June 10, 2025: The date of the letter from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, allegedly directing unauthorized individuals to sign applications for access to Osun LG accounts.

Sources:

  • Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) press briefing, Abuja, Wednesday.
  • Letter from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, dated June 10, 2025.
  • Court of Appeal ruling, delivered on June 13, 2025.
  • Supreme Court judgment, delivered on July 14, 2024.