Osun ALGON cautions Adeleke against interference in motor park administration

By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State Chapter, has cautioned Governor Ademola Adeleke against what it described as unconstitutional interference in the administration of public motor parks across the state, warning that such actions could undermine the rule of law and trigger fresh tension.

The association maintained that, under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the establishment, control, maintenance and regulation of public motor parks are the exclusive constitutional responsibilities of local government councils.

It argued that the governor lacks the legal authority to suspend the activities of transport unions or assume control over the management of motor parks.

ALGON therefore described the governor’s reported directive suspending the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state’s motor parks as unconstitutional, null and void, urging security agencies to act strictly in accordance with the law.

The position was contained in a statement issued by the ALGON Chairman in Osun State, Hon. Abiodun Idowu, who also criticised Governor Adeleke for what he described as his silence during the first 72 hours of the crisis.

According to the statement:

“Our attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by Governor Ademola Adeleke directing the suspension of NURTW activities in Osun State. If indeed the statement emanated from the Governor, it is not only unfortunate but also amounts to executive overreach and an attempt to create avoidable tension, as such a directive has no basis in law.

“The Governor’s statement only reinforces our position that the state government was either unwilling or unable to respond appropriately to the crisis. It is instructive that the Governor remained silent from Monday, July 20, 2026, when the crisis began, until Thursday, after ALGON had met with transport union leaders and announced the decision of branch and unit chairmen to constitute caretaker management committees for the various unions.”

ALGON insisted that responsibility for public motor parks rests solely with local government councils.

“We state unequivocally that the establishment, control, maintenance and regulation of public motor parks are constitutional responsibilities vested exclusively in local government councils. That responsibility cannot be usurped by any other tier of government.”

The association questioned whether the governor sought proper legal advice before issuing the directive.

“Paragraph 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly assigns responsibility for public motor parks to local governments.

“We therefore advise the Governor to obtain proper legal guidance or seek judicial interpretation if he is in doubt. Any directive that contradicts the Constitution amounts to a disregard for the rule of law, just as previous executive actions inconsistent with the law have failed.”

ALGON also warned against actions capable of escalating the situation in the state.

“We must caution against any action capable of throwing the state into another round of avoidable crisis. Following last year’s Court of Appeal judgment and the unfortunate killing of Hon. Remi Abass, Osun witnessed unnecessary tension. Through constructive engagement with stakeholders, ALGON has worked to restore peace across the motor parks. We therefore urge the Governor not to create another artificial crisis.”

The association said it had engaged transport unions across the state and that they had accepted the newly constituted caretaker management committees.

It called on security agencies to continue maintaining peace in the motor parks while urging the caretaker committees, led by Kazeem Oyewale and others, to sustain law and order across the state.