President Bola Tinubu has warned state governors that he may be forced to issue an Executive Order to enforce direct allocations to local governments if they fail to comply with a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming financial autonomy for Nigeria’s third tier of government.
Tinubu gave the warning on Friday during the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
In a veiled but stern remark about governors withholding statutory allocations meant for local councils, Tinubu warned that non-compliance may force him to directly allocate local council funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
Addressing the NEC members, including governors, National Working Committee members, and other party leaders, Tinubu said, “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.”
The President continued, “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.”
Tinubu’s remarks followed the July 11, 2024, landmark judgment by the Supreme Court, which ruled in favour of 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, a practice provided for in Section 162(5-8) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) but widely flouted by most state governments through joint accounts.
In his speech, Tinubu reiterated the need for governors to comply, warning that further violations could warrant a federal intervention.
“The ultimate goal is our Supreme Court. We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” he insisted.
