The Osun State House of Assembly on Friday passed the Osun State Local Government Accounts Administration Bill, 2025, a development expected to strengthen financial governance and promote transparency across the state’s 30 local government areas and area councils.

This is contained in a statement released through Olamide Tiamiyu, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker on Friday.

According to him, the bill, which regulates the opening, management, and operation of local government accounts, derives its legislative backing from Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), empowering state assemblies to make laws on local government finances.

Lawmakers said the legislation is aimed at enhancing accountability, curbing financial mismanagement, and ensuring strict adherence to statutory fiscal procedures within the local government system.

A major provision of the bill vests exclusive signatory authority on local government accounts in the Directors of Finance and the Directors of Administration and General Services. Political office holders and their appointees are expressly barred from serving as signatories—an action many observers believe will reduce political interference in council finances.

Speaking after its passage, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, announced that a clean copy of the bill will be forwarded to the State Governor for assent.

Once signed into law, the legislation is expected to entrench financial prudence, strengthen institutional integrity, and improve service delivery across Osun’s grassroots administrations.