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By Omolola Okanlawon, Osogbo
A Coalition of Youth groups in Osun State have pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing local government crisis in the state with a view to ensuring the release of statutory allocations to the councils after six months.
Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday, the spokesperson of the coalition, Babatunde Jamiu, labeled the fund withholding a “democratic disaster” and a “governance mismalady” that weaken grassroots services and harm citizens that depends on it instead of politicians.
Babawale elaborated the impact of the withheld funds, stating that it is crushing the local government, leading to failure of infrastructure, “stopped development programme, weakening of hospitals services, and a stop in youth empowerment opportunities”.
He add, “Your Excellency Sir, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban himself. For 185 days, our Local Government allocations have been trapped in Abuja, and with every passing day our fear increases that our schools will be weaken, our hospitals will fail, our roads will die, and our dreams will dim. Not because government is not responsible, but because it is being disempowered”.
In addition to the funding issue, the coalition urged the Federal Government to fully reopen the National Youth Development Centre in Ode-Omu, saying that the centre is a hub for leadership training and entrepreneurship, has been neglected and reviving it will demonstrate the government’s commitment to young Nigerians.
“Beyond this immediate crisis, we also call on the Federal Government to resuscitate and fully operationalize the National Youth Development Centre in Ode-Omu, Osun State — a facility that has remained underutilized for years despite its potential to transform the lives of millions of Nigerian youths. That Centre was envisioned as a hub for leadership training, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and youth innovation, but today it lies dormant, a shadow of its promise.
“Reviving it will not only serve as a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to youth empowerment, but also provide sustainable opportunities for Osun youths and beyond to acquire skills, develop enterprises, and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy. If truly Nigeria’s youth are to be seen as assets and not liabilities, then the Ode-Omu Youth Development Centre must not be left to rot — it must be restored, funded, and made to function as a beacon of hope for young Nigerians.
“And so, we end with one cry, one prayer, one demand:
Your Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, please release Osun’s allocations. Let our Local Governments live. Let us breathe”, he added.
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