The Osun State Government says it has returned to the Supreme Court after the Federal Government allegedly reneged on a negotiated agreement to release local government funds.
Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, told Punch on Sunday that the state had earlier withdrawn a similar case before the apex court following appeals for an amicable settlement.
Naija News reports that Alimi said, “There was an agreement between the state and the Federal Government that if we withdrew the case, they would pay the money. That was the reason we withdrew the case, but they didn’t honour it.”
The commissioner explained that despite interventions by monarchs, the Nigerian Bar Association, and other stakeholders, the deadlock persisted.
He stated, “We know that there is no law on their side; they are only using federal might. That is why we decided to go back to the Supreme Court for proper interpretation, so that the issue will be resolved and the salaries of workers who are concerned and the entitlements of the people of Osun State who are being deliberately denied will be paid.”
Alimi dismissed claims that the withheld allocations were linked to the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy.
He said, “The issue is not about local government autonomy. If they want to pay, let them pay it into the local government account. Signatories to the local government accounts are always public servants, not politicians. If they want to implement local government autonomy, it is not bad, but why should it be only in Osun? That is the question that people should ask.”
He revealed that Governor Ademola Adeleke had been sourcing alternative funds since February to ensure workers under the local government system were not left unpaid.
“If the governor has not been finding other means to pay those whose salaries are under the local government since February, does that mean those people should starve to death? Where does the Federal Government derive the power to withhold allocation to other tiers of government?” he asked.
Local council secretariats across Osun have remained closed since February 17, following the lingering tussle between chairmen elected on the platforms of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress over control of the councils.
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