Osun APC kicks against assembly’s LG account control bill

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised the bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly seeking to tighten control over local government bank accounts, describing it as contrary to the Supreme Court judgement granting autonomy to local governments.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party accused the Assembly, led by Adewale Egbedun, of attempting to undermine the apex court’s ruling through what it termed backdoor legislative actions. It urged lawmakers to desist from enacting laws that could weaken council independence.

The Assembly had passed the Osun State Local Government (Amendment No. 2) Bill, 2026, introducing additional rules and oversight measures over local government accounts. The bill was adopted following the presentation of a report by the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Bamidele Rasheed, who represents Osogbo State Constituency.

The APC described the development as disturbing, alleging that the legislature was devising means to frustrate the autonomy granted to local councils by the Supreme Court. It argued that the amendment was unnecessary and unenforceable.

According to Olabisi, the essence of any law lies in its enforceability, warning that legislation which cannot be implemented would amount to a waste of legislative effort.

“The Osun State House of Assembly would command more respect if it could, for once, exhibit independence from the state executive instead of acting as an appendage of the Adeleke government. The passage of this bill shows the lawmakers are swimming against the tide, as the reasons advanced neither hold water nor justify what appears to be an attempt to retain control over local government administration despite the Supreme Court’s ruling,” he said.

The party maintained that the move undermines the spirit and intent of the apex court’s judgement on local government autonomy.

It therefore called on the Assembly to reconsider the legislation and align its actions with constitutional provisions and judicial pronouncements.