Stakeholders have urged state governors to support President Bola Tinubu in implementing full financial autonomy for local governments, warning that continued resistance could undermine constitutional order and democratic governance.
The call followed recent remarks by the President, who cautioned that failure by governors to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy could force the Federal Government to issue an executive order directing that allocations from the Federation Account be paid directly to local councils.
Speaking at the 15th National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Tinubu said his administration would not hesitate to act if states continued to frustrate the implementation of the court’s decision.
The President’s warning is anchored on the July 11, 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court, which upheld the Federal Government’s suit seeking to enforce financial independence for the 774 local government councils in the country.
Reacting to the development, the Secretary-General of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria said the apex court’s ruling was clear and unambiguous, stressing that funds meant for local governments must be paid directly to them without interference from state governments.
He said the President’s public stance demonstrated political will and commitment to strengthening grassroots governance.
“The Supreme Court is very clear that local government funds should be paid directly to the councils,” he said. “The President should go ahead and do the needful. We fully support that position.”
He added that Tinubu’s remarks signalled seriousness about enforcing local government autonomy, urging governors and other stakeholders to align with the directive in the interest of democratic development.
“For the President to state this openly shows he means business. All stakeholders, including governors, should support this move and allow the system to work as intended,” he said.
A human rights lawyer also backed the President’s position, insisting that the Supreme Court judgment must be obeyed and enforced.
He said enforcement of the ruling falls squarely within the constitutional responsibilities of the Attorney General of the Federation and the President.
“It is a Supreme Court judgment and it must be enforced,” he said. “The Attorney General has a duty to ensure its enforcement, and the President must see to it that this is done.”
He criticised what he described as resistance by some governors, calling it a disregard for democratic principles and the rule of law.
“It is troubling that some governors appear unwilling to respect the democratic process,” he said. “The Supreme Court has spoken clearly on this matter, and compliance is not optional.”
The Supreme Court ruling was widely hailed as a landmark decision aimed at strengthening governance at the grassroots, curbing state-level interference, and ensuring that funds meant for local development are used for that purpose.
However, implementation has faced resistance from some state governments, raising concerns over compliance and enforcement.
With the President now signalling readiness to take decisive action, pressure is mounting on governors to align with the ruling and avoid a constitutional standoff.