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By Omolola Okanlawon, Osogbo
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Osun State chapter, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene into the continuous withholding of local government allocations due to the council areas of the state, saying youths and women at the grassroots are worst hit with the situation.
The state chairman of the council, Comrade Akinbode Oluwasegun, stated this during a press briefing with journalists in Osogbo on Thursday.
Akinbode elaborated that the allocation meant for the local government has been withheld for months, bringing governance and development projects at the grassroots level to a standstill.
“For months now, these funds have not been released. By constitutional provision, these allocations are meant for local governments to cater for grassroots governance, development projects, and welfare programmes. Unfortunately, the continued withholding of these funds has crippled governance at the local government level, and the youth, as well as women are the worst hit”, he said.
The chairman also outlined the devastating effect on the state youth, noting that “Community development projects have been stalled. Youth empowerment programs across all local government have been abandoned. Sports and cultural activities that unite and engage our young people have been suspended”.
Comrade Akinbode appealed to Bola Tinubu whom he praised as “a listening leader”, to immediately direct Accountant General of the Federation to release the funds.
He emphasized that the issue transcends financial transaction, calling it a “moral and constitutional responsibility. It is about the dignity of grassroots, well-being of our people, and the future of our youths”.
Akinbode insisted that the will of the people who voted for democracy must be respected, concluding that “starving the local government system of resources directly translates to starving the people of development. It is unjust, unfair, and unacceptable”.
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