Tenure of Elected Local Government Officials in Osun State: Setting the Records Straight.

Tenure of Elected Local Government Officials in Osun State: Setting the Records Straight.

Osogbo, June 26, 2025.

The attention of the Osun State House of Assembly has been drawn to a circulation going round in some quarters concerning a misconception on the tenure of elected local government functionaries in Osun State. The provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Laws on Local Government Administration in Osun State on this subject matter are clear and unambiguous.

 In line with the provisions of section 6 of the Osun State Local Government Areas (Creation and Administration) Amendment (No.7) Law 2024, the tenure of elected Local Government officials is THREE(3) YEARS effective from the date of their swearing-in into office. It should be pointed out, without mincing words that the tenure of elected local government officials in all the local government areas, excluding Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory, is not provided for by either the 1999 Constitution or the Electoral Act, 2022. Section 3(6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for Seven Hundred and Sixty-Eight (768) Local Government Areas across the 36 States in Nigeria as reflected in the Second column of Part 1 of the First Schedule to the Constitution and Six Area Councils as shown in Part II of that Schedule. However, section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) expressly places the power to determine the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of local government councils under the Government of a State via a Law enacted by the House of Assembly.

 Meanwhile, while the tenure of elected local government officials in all the 768 local government areas of the 36 States in Nigeria is fixed by the Law of their respective States, the tenure of the elected officials in the 6 Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is provided for under section 108 of the Electoral Act, 2022. In addition, the definition of the term “Area Council” is provided for under Section 152 (Interpretation) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

 From the foregoing analysis, it is evidently clear that the tenure of elected local government officials in Osun State as contained in the enabling legislation is THREE YEARS from the date of taking the oath of office. The Osun State House of Assembly is therefore using this medium to inform members of the public to avoid being misled or misinformed by any individual or group of individuals who are fond of circulating false information concerning local government administration in Osun State. Any area of doubt regarding the operation and administration of local government in Osun State should be cleared from the Osun State House of Assembly from time to time.

Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun,

Speaker Osun State House of Assembly.