Local governments, under the aegis of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), have backed President Bola Tinubu’s plan to enforce direct disbursement of council funds from the Federation Account, amid continued control of allocations by state governments.
Tinubu issued the warning during the 15th National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, where he urged governors to comply with the Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local councils.
The President cautioned that failure to implement the judgment could compel him to issue an Executive Order mandating direct allocation of funds to local governments.
His remarks followed the July 11, 2024 ruling of the Supreme Court, which upheld the Federal Government’s suit seeking to enforce financial independence for local governments.
In a unanimous judgment, a seven-member panel of the apex court declared it unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds allocated to local councils, ruling that the use of caretaker committees amounts to unlawful control of local governments in violation of the 1999 Constitution.
Eighteen months after the verdict, concerns persist that council funds continue to be routed through state structures, raising questions about the impact of increased revenues on grassroots governance.
According to a story by Punch, ALGON Secretary-General, Muhammed Abubakar, said local government leaders fully support Tinubu’s resolve to enforce the Supreme Court judgment.
“So basically, as you are aware, he said it in their presence, not in their absence. So, my belief is that they will actually carry that out before the president will also do the needful, like he rightly told them in the meeting,” he said.
Abubakar expressed optimism that governors would comply, noting that Tinubu’s warning was unambiguous.
“So I guess they will obey the Supreme Court’s order and do the needful. But basically, if that is not carried out, I think we will all be in support of the president to go ahead with whatever threat he has made,” he added.
Reacting, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum spokesperson, Yunusa Abdullahi, said governors would meet and communicate their position shortly.
“The President has spoken with the governors, so they will have a meeting, and then the details will be out. The President spoke with the governors, and I am sure they will respond appropri ately,” he said.