A civil society organisation, the World Institute for Peace, WIP, has cautioned the Osun State Government against interfering in the administration and finances of local government councils.
The institute, which cited existing court judgements on council autonomy, handed down the warning in a statement issued on Thursday by its Executive Director, Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi.
Omotoyosi also said the matter of local government control had been conclusively settled by the courts.
It urged the state government to restrict itself to duties constitutionally assigned to it, stressing that “neither the state government nor its agencies has supervisory or financial authority over local governments.”
According to the group, the controversy stemmed from the dissolution of elected local government councils in Osun State in 2022, a move that prompted affected chairmen and councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to seek judicial redress.
The institute recalled that the dispute progressed through the courts and resulted in judgements by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which is clear, binding and final.
Omotoyosi explained that at the Court of Appeal, the APC-elected chairmen challenged an earlier judgement of the Federal High Court that validated their removal, adding that the Allied Peoples Party, APP, was not a party to the appeal.
“The APP neither filed an appeal nor participated in arguments before the Court of Appeal. Any reliance on the APP case by the Osun State Government lacked legal basis.
“The Court of Appeal, in its majority judgement delivered in February 2025, allowed the appeal in full, set aside the lower court’s decision and ordered the reinstatement of the dissolved councils,” he said.
The organisation noted that the appellate court affirmed that no state government has the constitutional power to dissolve elected local government councils or interfere in their administration.
On the Supreme Court’s decision, Omotoyosi said the apex court upheld local governments as a distinct tier of government and ruled that funds meant for councils belong exclusively to them.
“Any interference with local government allocation violates the Constitution. The Supreme Court justices affirmed the reinstated chairmen as the lawful occupants of their offices,” he said.
The institute also dismissed claims that local government allocations had not been released, describing such assertions as false and misleading.
According to the statement, allocations have been disbursed by the Federal Government, and any disruption in council activities was attributed to what it called deliberate obstruction at the state level.
The group condemned misinformation and politicisation of court judgements, advising anyone in doubt about the legal position to seek clarification from the courts.
It urged the Osun State Government to respect the rule of law and constitutional provisions, warning that continued litigation and public disputes could undermine grassroots governance and development.
