ABUJA, Nigeria – Amid rising tensions between the Osun State Government and the Federal Government over the alleged withholding of local government (LG) allocations, legal luminary Robert Clarke (SAN) has called for the creation of an independent, transparent body to oversee disbursements directly from the federal treasury.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Clarke commented on the ongoing Supreme Court case initiated by the Osun State Government. The state, led by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is accusing the federal authorities of unlawfully withholding LG allocations for February, March, and April 2025.
While affirming the Supreme Court’s constitutional role in the dispute, Clarke emphasized the urgent need for a structural overhaul in how local government funds are distributed. “For Nigeria to move forward, we must remove political interference from LG fund disbursements,” he stated. “An independent body should be established—one that is accountable, transparent, and immune to political manipulation.”
Clarke’s remarks spotlight the broader debate on fiscal federalism and local governance accountability. He proposed a model where the Federal Government disburses funds directly to a verified entity within each state—independent of the state executive—ensuring that allocations reach local councils without delay or diversion.
“Once the federal funds leave the treasury, they should go directly to a known and trusted body. This would ensure LG funds are used for grassroots development rather than entangled in political control,” he said.
The Osun Government’s legal action seeks not only the release of withheld funds but also a Supreme Court injunction to prevent future withholdings. As the case unfolds, Clarke expressed optimism that the judiciary’s decision would deliver both clarity and precedent.
“I’m pleased that the Supreme Court is addressing this critical issue,” Clarke concluded. “But lasting change depends on institutional reform.”