The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, has issued an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appealing for his urgent intervention to resolve the continued withholding of statutory allocations belonging to the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Osun State.

In the letter signed by the NANS Southwest Zone D Coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, the student leadership urged the Federal Government to ensure that constitutional governance and grassroots development prevail following the conclusion of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

According to NANS, available records indicate that more than N200 billion in statutory allocations had accumulated as withheld funds by mid-2026, creating severe operational and developmental bottlenecks across local councils in the state.

The association stressed that the ongoing financial impasse directly affects student welfare and the public interest, noting that local government councils host thousands of tertiary institution students across Osun State.

“Local governments are the closest tier of government to our campuses and host communities,” the statement highlighted. “Their financial capacity directly affects roads, sanitation, healthcare, water supply, security, youth development and other services upon which students depend.”

NANS maintained that, with the election period concluded, political considerations should be set aside to prioritise governance. The student apex body urged President Tinubu to direct key federal institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to clear all administrative and legal impediments surrounding the allocations.

The association further called on local government administrators in Osun State to ensure strict accountability and visible development once the funds are released, particularly within communities hosting higher institutions of learning.

Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful advocacy, NANS stated that releasing the withheld allocations would not represent a political victory for any party, but rather a triumph for constitutional democracy and the socio-economic well-being of Osun State residents. (The Guardian)

Update news