The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun has denied the allegation of funds diversion levelled against council chairmen by the state House of Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Adewale Egbedun, had on Sunday while addressing journalists, alleged that billions of naira were diverted by the local government chairmen elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Addressing a news conference on Monday in Osogbo, the ALGON Chairman in the state, Mr Abiodun Idowu, said no such diversion occurred since the assumption of office by the APC local government chairmen and councillors in February 2025.

Reacting to the allegation, Idowu said all procedures legally required for opening accounts and for the payment of workers’ salaries were duly observed by the councils to ensure that there was no infraction of the law.

“Members of the public must be informed that the process took more than seven months to be successfully concluded.

“In line with the Local Government Administration Law, no payment was made without prior approval of the legislative arm of the councils.

“For the umpteenth time, there is no illegality being perpetrated at the local government level.

“As such, all the allegations by the Speaker are debunked and out rightly denied as cheap propaganda aimed at unlawfully accessing local government funds,” he said.

Idowu also stated that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Gboyega Oyetola has no role to play in the administration of local governments in the state, contrary to the allegations by the Speaker. (NAN)