President Bola Tinubu has urged state governors to comply with the Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments.
The President warned that failure by governors to honour the verdict may compel him to issue an Executive Order to ensure direct allocations from the Federation Account to local councils.
Tinubu gave the warning on Friday during the 15th National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
By withholding statutory allocations meant for local councils, Tinubu cautioned that non-compliance could compel him to directly allocate local council funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
“The Supreme Court has capped it for you again, saying, ‘give them their money directly.’ If you wait for my Executive Order, because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it.
“I’m just being very respectful and understanding with my governors. Otherwise, if you don’t start to implement it, fact after fact, you will see,” he said.
Tinubu’s remarks followed the July 11, 2024 judgment by the Supreme Court, which upheld the Federal Government’s suit seeking to enforce financial independence for local governments.
In a unanimous decision, a seven-member panel of the apex court declared that it is unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds meant for local councils.
The court ordered the direct payment of allocations from the Federation Account to local governments, as provided under Section 162(5-8) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). However, most state governments have continued to flout this directive through joint accounts.
Addressing NEC members—including National Working Committee members, and other party leaders—Tinubu reiterated the need for governors to comply, warning that further violations could warrant federal intervention.
“The ultimate goal is our Supreme Court. We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” he insisted.
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