The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the continued withholding of statutory allocations due to the 30 local government areas (LGAs) of Osun State.

The student body made the appeal in an open letter to the President signed by its Southwest Zone D Coordinator, Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, following the conclusion of the August 15 governorship election in the state.

NANS claimed that more than N200 billion in statutory allocations had accumulated as withheld funds by mid-2026, saying the situation had created severe operational and developmental challenges for local councils across the state.

The association urged the Federal Government to ensure that post-election political considerations gave way to constitutional governance and grassroots development.

According to NANS, the financial impasse has implications for student welfare and the broader public interest because local governments serve communities hosting thousands of students across tertiary institutions in the state.

It said: “Local governments are the closest tier of government to our campuses and host communities. Their financial capacity directly affects roads, sanitation, healthcare, water supply, security, youth development, and other services upon which students depend.”

NANS urged Tinubu to direct relevant federal institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to resolve administrative and legal impediments surrounding the funds.

The association said the conclusion of the governorship election provided an opportunity for all stakeholders to shift attention from political contests to governance and the development of communities.

It also urged local government administrators in Osun State to ensure transparency, accountability and visible development if the withheld allocations were released.

NANS specifically called for the prioritisation of communities hosting tertiary institutions, saying improved infrastructure and basic services would directly benefit students and residents.

The association maintained that the release of the funds should not be viewed as a political victory for any party but as a step towards strengthening constitutional democracy and improving the socio-economic wellbeing of Osun residents.