The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to enforce the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s local governments for political reasons ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku made the accusation in a statement signed Tuesday by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo.
The former Vice President referred to the Supreme Court judgment delivered in July 2024, which affirmed the financial autonomy of local government councils and ordered the direct payment of federal allocations to them.
Atiku claimed the Tinubu administration had failed to fully implement the judgment to avoid confrontation with state governors, who previously exercised control over local government funds.
He further accused the administration of allowing governors to retain control of the funds as an incentive to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Atiku said his administration would respect court judgments and ensure that funds meant for local governments reach the councils directly if he is elected president.
He said direct funding would strengthen local government autonomy, promote development at the grassroots and help reduce poverty.
The ADC candidate also argued that financially independent local governments would have greater capacity to address security challenges, including crime and terrorism, at the grassroots.
Atiku said the country needs a return to true federalism, with all tiers of government operating with the constitutional independence required to effectively serve Nigerians.
He pledged that his administration would prioritise the rule of law and ensure public funds are used for the benefit of the people for whom they are intended.
The Supreme Court judgment has remained a subject of debate, with implementation of direct federal allocations to local councils facing challenges despite significant funds being allocated to the third tier of government since the ruling.
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