Politics

EDE SOUTH SIT AT HOME CHAIRMAN FACES BACKLASH AFTER PRESENTING 5.75 Billion AS 2026 BUDGET TO OSUN ASSEMBLY DESPITE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY

Published by admin on December 16th, 2025.

EDE SOUTH PDP SIT AT HOME CHAIRMAN FACES BACKLASH AFTER PRESENTING 5.75 Billion AS 2026 BUDGET TO OSUN ASSEMBLY DESPITE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY

The PDP sit at home Chairman of Ede South Local Government Area, Hon. Lukman Afolabi Abere Soose, on Tuesday presented his PDP council’s proposed 2026 budget to the Osun State House of Assembly. The budget, estimated at ₦5.75 billion, was laid before the lawmakers amid growing public criticism, with some stakeholders questioning why the council still submitted its estimates to the state legislature despite the constitutional recognition of local government autonomy by the Federal Government.

The proposed budget, totaling ₦5,750,039,310, is expected to be funded entirely from projected revenue without recourse to borrowing. A breakdown of the estimates shows that ₦4.05 billion is allocated to recurrent expenditure, while ₦1.7 billion is set aside for capital projects. Personnel costs account for ₦2.55 billion, with ₦1.5 billion earmarked for other recurrent non-debt expenses. The capital allocation is targeted at infrastructure development and social programmes across the local government area.

While presenting the budget, Hon. Afolabi explained that the 2026 fiscal plan is focused on boosting internally generated revenue to reduce dependence on federal allocations. According to him, priority areas include the rehabilitation and construction of rural feeder roads, investment in agriculture such as crop farming, poultry and piggery, and the use of these projects as demonstration models for local farmers. He also listed education, healthcare, youth empowerment, security, water supply, and public enlightenment as key components of the spending plan.

However, the presentation sparked backlash from observers and residents who argued that submitting the budget to the state assembly contradicts the spirit of local government autonomy, which grants councils greater financial and administrative independence. Critics insist that continued reliance on state approval undermines grassroots governance and delays development at the local level.

Despite the controversy, the Osun State House of Assembly received the budget for legislative consideration as part of the process toward its implementation in the 2026 fiscal year. The sit at home chairman maintained that the estimates reflect his administration’s development agenda and commitment to inclusive growth in Ede South.

Hon. Afolabi was accompanied to the assembly by his Vice Chairman, Hon. Muritala Salami; the Executive Secretary, Hon. Usman Hammed Alabi Oloseluoni; the Head of Local Government Administration, Dr. Adewale Adedapo; the Ede East Area Council Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Hassan Oyelola; his vice, Hon. Emilly Adiamon; the Secretary, Hon. Aminu Adebayo, and other top officials.