Osun LG Crises: Enough of Excuses, Release Funds – NYCN tells Tinubu

By Favour Odanye

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Osun State Chapter, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the release of withheld local government funds, warning that the delay has disrupted youth empowerment programmes, stalled community projects, and caused hardship for young people across the state.

The NYCN Chairman, Comrade Akinbode Oluwasegun, made the appeal during a press conference on Thursday at the State Secretariat in Osogbo.

While describing  Tinubu as a “listening leader,” Oluwasegun recalled the president’s swift intervention in the Ibadan–Ilesa–Akure Expressway project following their earlier plea, citing it as an example of his attentiveness to public concerns.

He noted that while the federal and state governments have made notable efforts in infrastructure and youth development, the continued withholding of local government funds by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has negatively impacted grassroots governance.

Oluwasegun added that the impact has been mostly felt by youths, as well as local government workers and rural dwellers who rely on these allocations, many of whom are now facing distress and feelings of neglect.

He appealed to the president to ensure the funds are released to prevent idleness, restlessness, and frustration among youths, which he said could threaten the peace and stability of the state.

Oluwasegun also called on the federal and state governments to ensure that democracy is felt at the grassroots, emphasizing that the well-being and future of youths should be made a priority..

His words: “The consequence of this is growing frustration, hopelessness, and idleness among young people. We all know that an idle youth population can become a threat to peace, stability, and security.

“The will and wishes of the people of Osun must be respected. They voted for democracy, and democracy thrives when people feel the impact of government in their daily lives. Starving the local government system of resources directly translates to starving the people of development. It is unjust, unfair, and unacceptable.

“On behalf of the youth of Osun State, we say: Enough of the delay, enough of the suffering, enough of the excuses. Let the funds be released, let governance flow to the grassroots, and let our people breathe again”.