Reinstated local government chairmen under the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State have pledged to recall over 1,500 dismissed workers and clear outstanding salary arrears owed to traditional rulers, following the release of withheld federal allocations to councils.
The federal government had withheld the allocations since February 2025 due to a leadership dispute between APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The funds were eventually released in September into accounts operated by the APC chairmen.
Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, in the APC faction, Abiodun Idowu, announced the development during a press briefing in Osogbo on Friday.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the APC-led executives to restoring effective grassroots governance across the state.
Idowu maintained that the reinstated chairmen remained the legitimate administrators of the 30 local government councils and the area office, as affirmed by the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on February 10, 2025.
“Our mandate, freely given by the people of Osun State during the October 2022 local government elections, was temporarily interrupted but now restored by the court. We are back to serve and deliver dividends of democracy at the grassroots,” Idowu said.
He disclosed that the APC chairmen had concluded plans to re-engage the 1,500 workers disengaged by the present administration, including teachers, health workers, O’YES cadets, and O’Meal vendors employed under the former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration.
“Plans are ongoing to recall and re-engage the 1,500 teachers employed by the last APC government but sacked by the current administration. We will also recall the dismissed health workers, O’YES cadets, and O’Meal vendors. Beyond recalling them, we will offset part of their salaries and emoluments. This is a policy statement, not politics,” Idowu stated.
He added that arrangements had also been made to clear arrears owed to traditional rulers, noting that the chairmen considered the welfare of monarchs critical to local administration and community peace.
“The traditional rulers will also benefit from the new development as we have concluded plans to clear their outstanding allowances and entitlements,” he assured.
The ALGON chairman, however, accused the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of allegedly using the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, and other affiliated groups to obstruct the release of the federal allocations meant for councils.
He argued that the funds could have alleviated financial pressures affecting the councils, traditional rulers, teachers, and health workers if released earlier.
“Those funds were meant to drive local development, but political interference delayed their release,” Idowu alleged.
Idowu further dismissed claims that the APC-led council executives were attempting to divert local government funds through unauthorised deductions, describing such reports as baseless fabrications aimed at discrediting their return to office.
He urged residents of the state to remain calm and supportive, promising that the restored local government leadership would focus on community development, job creation, and restoring public confidence in local governance.
