Seized LG allocations: Osun obas broke, can’t pay salaries

FOLLOWING the continued seizure of allocations to the 30 local governments in Osun State by the Federal Government, it has been gathered that palaces in the state have been grounded by lack of funds.

The traditional councils in each of the local governments in Nigeria statutorily take five percent of the local government allocations for the running of the palaces and general upkeep of the monarchs.

At the obas’ statutory meeting number 6 of 2025 which was held on 3 July, 2025 in Osogbo, the state capital, the issue was reportedly exhaustively discussed.

Monthly allocations to Osun State local governments were seized by the Federal Government in March 2025 as a result of ongoing claims and counter-claims to the headship of the local governments by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Federal Government-backed All Progressives Congress (APC).

Both parties are claiming victory in a case determined by the Court of Appeal. A second case, determined a few weeks ago, was won by the Action People’s Party (APP) against the APC, but the ruling party is insisting on the earlier case which it claimed reinstated its chairmen sacked in 2022 by the Federal High Court, Osogbo.

It was gathered that the Governor Ademola Adeleke government had been ‘managing’ to pay the five percent to the obas despite the non-release of the allocation until three months ago when it could no longer cope.

“The palaces are grounded. People who work there have not received their salaries for the past three months. Even for many of the obas, fueling their vehicles has become a very big issue. It is as bad as the situation in the various local government secretariats which were closed almost seven months ago and have been overgrown by weeds,” a palace worker told Saturday Tribune.

The obas, it was gathered, resolved at their July 3, 2025 meeting to send a delegation to President Bola Tinubu for a political resolution of the impasse.

However, a source said some of the top obas in the state “are afraid” to lead the push for fear of being seen as anti-APC and anti-Tinubu’s second term ambition.

It will be recalled that last Friday at the grand finale of the Osun Osogbo Festival, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, expressed the frustration of the obas on the issue.

The monarch said: “Some royal fathers came to meet me and ask about what we will do about the issue. The Secretary to the State Government is my own son. However, the governor, his deputy, and the Chief of Staff are from somewhere and they have their monarchs too.

“They should also call their own monarchs. Why should I be the one to lead? When we get to Abuja, I know what I will say there. The Federal Government needs Osun’s votes in 2027, and Osogbo people have already sent me to Tinubu that our votes are for him. Why is he now scared?

“Tinubu should release our money. I also want to send those of you who have the chance to speak to the President to tell him to release the money they owe Osun State to our governor. Once he does that, when it’s time for the election, I will be there.”

READ ALSO: LG allocations: Ataoja asks Tinubu to release Osun’s funds