The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Osun Axis, under the leadership of Comrade Afolabi Faruq, popularly known as Costa, has issued a fervent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, and other relevant stakeholders to expedite the release of Osun State's local government allocations.
The appeal was contained in a press statement released by NANS JCC Osun Axis and jointly signed by its Chairman, Comrade Afolabi Faruq (Costa), and Secretary General, Comrade Joseph Oluwagbohunmi (Heir_Josheey).
According to the statement, the withheld allocations remain a stumbling block to the growth and well-being of the Osun people. “As students, we maintain a neutral stance on partisan politics; however, we cannot idly stand by while our state's progress is stifled,” the association declared.
The funds, earmarked for local governments to tackle pressing issues such as education and infrastructure, have been withheld, precipitating what NANS described as a governance crisis in the state. While acknowledging the complex nature of politics, the association insisted that, as the leader of all Nigerians, President Tinubu must prioritize developmental politics over partisan interests.
“Despite a court ruling that overturned the elections of APC chairmen, the federal government has refused to disburse Osun State's local government allocations. It is disconcerting that Osun is the only state facing this predicament, while other states continue to operate joint accounts with their local governments, even in defiance of the Supreme Court's ruling on local government autonomy. The question remains: why is Osun being singled out?” the statement queried.
NANS JCC Osun Axis further stressed that the withholding of allocations has far-reaching consequences, particularly for students. Teacher recruitment and other developmental projects have stalled, deepening the state’s challenges. The body, however, commended Governor Ademola Adeleke’s leadership, describing his performance as exemplary and surpassing that of his predecessors.
“We, the over 200,000 students of Osun State, stand solidly behind Governor Adeleke, and we are eager to continue supporting his initiatives. His commitment to good governance has not gone unnoticed, and we applaud his efforts to drive progress in our beloved state,” the statement read.
Concluding, the association made a passionate plea to President Tinubu to “have mercy on the people of Osun and release the local government allocations to the elected chairmen who won the February 22, 2025 election, conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act and the Nigerian Constitution.”
According to NANS, such a step would not only revitalize Osun’s development but also demonstrate the President’s commitment to equity, justice, and the well-being of all Nigerians.
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