Atiku Urges Tinubu to Enforce Supreme Court Ruling on Local Government Autonomy

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately enforce the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, warning that further delay undermines the Constitution.

Atiku’s reaction follows the apex court’s unanimous judgment delivered in July 2024, which declared it unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds allocated to local government areas.

The court also ruled that the operation of caretaker committees places local councils under state control, in violation of the 1999 Constitution.

InfoStride News recalls that President Tinubu, while speaking at the weekend during the 15th National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, urged state governors to comply with the judgment. He warned that failure to do so could force him to issue an Executive Order to ensure direct allocation of funds from the Federation Account to local governments.

Reacting via social media, Atiku accused the President of politicising the Supreme Court ruling and failing to take decisive steps to enforce it.

“At this point, there is no need for threats of Executive Orders,” Atiku said.

“All the President needs to do is instruct the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce the judgment immediately. Anything short of this is a failure of leadership.”

The former vice president, who is a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, alleged that Tinubu’s inaction was deliberate and politically motivated.

“Your refusal to act is a calculated political move—using obedience to the law as a bargaining chip to force opposition governors into the APC and to keep governors within your party firmly under your control,” Atiku wrote.

He further stated that the President had reduced the Constitution to a tool for partisan bargaining, stressing that Supreme Court judgments are final and not optional.

Atiku warned that continued failure to enforce the ruling amounts to a breach of constitutional duty.

“Persistently refusing to enforce one is a direct breach of the Constitution and a violation of the oath you swore to Nigerians,” he said.

He concluded by cautioning that history would judge the present administration harshly over the matter, adding that Nigerians would not forget the decision to prioritise political control over constitutional responsibility.