JUST IN: TINUBU WARNS GOVERNORS, THREATENS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ENFORCE DIRECT LG ALLOCATIONS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
President Bola Tinubu has warned state governors that his administration may issue an Executive Order to enforce direct allocation of funds to local governments if states fail to comply with a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the financial autonomy of local councils.
The President issued the warning on Friday while addressing the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
In a pointed remark directed at governors accused of withholding statutory allocations meant for local governments, Tinubu cautioned that continued non-compliance could compel the Federal Government to take direct control of local government funding through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
“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 told party leaders and governors in attendance.
He added that while he had so far exercised restraint, persistent failure by governors to implement the ruling would attract decisive action. “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 warned.
The President’s remarks follow a landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court on July 11, 2024, in which the apex court ruled in favour of the Federal Government’s suit seeking to enforce financial autonomy for local governments.
In a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel, the court declared it unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds allocated to local councils. The judgment ordered that allocations from the Federation Account be paid directly to local governments, in line with Sections 162(5–8) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Reiterating his administration’s position, Tinubu stressed that compliance with the court’s ruling was mandatory, noting that further violations could warrant federal intervention.
“The ultimate goal is our Supreme Court. We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” the President said.
The warning underscores growing federal resolve to enforce local government autonomy and curb the long-standing practice of joint state-local government accounts, which has been widely criticised for undermining grassroots development.
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