The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has said that it now has full control of the councils in the state, including its funds.

Osun APC-led ALGON Chairman, Samuel Abiodun Idowu, while addressing members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun Correspondents’ Chapel in their office in Osogbo, yesterday, stated that there is no legal impediment to their reinstatement and functionality as heads of the third tier of government in the state.

He said that from next year, the grassroots would experience great turnarounds and that programmes that would impact the lives of residents would be rolled out.

Idowu, the reinstated Chairman of Ifedayo Local Council, said that the recent judgment of the Supreme Court over the logjam in the council favoured the faction, noting that it has been withdrawing salaries from the council accounts and that now, it is in charge of the full allocations.

The council boss, while commending the media for “fair reportage” of the controversies rocking the Osun councils, said that the councils would be more stable and that full activities would kick off in early 2026.

He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for ensuring the autonomy of the local council, noting that its full implementation is needed to engender good governance in the local communities.

“The Supreme Court judgment has come and gone and it is six against one. Anybody bringing anything against that is just a novice. We are so much in charge of local councils in Osun and very soon, we will be rolling out programmes in the state. The grassroots is the most important stage of society and joking with that level is going to be a lot of wastage for the people.

“President Tinubu has done well by bringing this autonomy to local councils and I am sure in a few years to come, our town and villages would have improved if this autonomy can be well monitored and implemented.”

Idowu, who claimed that he has an official letter from the National ALGON office recognising him as the only ALGON Chairman in Osun State, declared that “any other chairman is a counterfeit.”

He revealed that it had approached the Federal High Court in Osogbo seeking the court’s determination of when the tenure of the council chairmen elected during the administration of Gboyega Oyetola would elapse, adding that while awaiting judicial pronouncement on the issue, he believes that their tenure started counting from February 10, 2025. (The Nation)

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