The Osun State Government has strongly rejected the demand by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for a refund of local government allocations received by the state, describing it as unconstitutional, politically motivated, and an affront to the principle of federalism.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, the government expressed concern over what it termed “the AGF’s overreach” in matters constitutionally vested in state jurisdictions.
“We view the AGF’s letter demanding that Osun refund allocations accrued to its local governments as baseless and a violation of both the 1999 Constitution and recent judicial pronouncements,” the statement read.
According to the government, the allocations in question were duly disbursed to all 30 local government areas and the Area Office in compliance with existing state laws and financial procedures. It accused the AGF of acting in furtherance of a political agenda aimed at undermining the autonomy of states under the guise of constitutional compliance.
“The Supreme Court did not authorize the AGF or any federal authority to demand refunds. The judgement merely emphasized the autonomy of local governments and the illegality of withholding allocations. Osun has neither violated this principle nor diverted funds meant for LGs,” the statement added.
Governor Ademola Adeleke reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, urging the Federal Government to respect constitutional boundaries and refrain from actions capable of provoking inter-governmental tension.
“We are open to constructive dialogue, but we will not allow undue intimidation or unlawful directives to interfere with the governance of our state,” the Governor said.
The state government called on other stakeholders, especially the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), to resist any encroachment on states’ rights and to stand united in defense of federalism.