President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a firm warning to state governors across Nigeria, stating that he may resort to issuing an Executive Order to guarantee the direct release of funds to local government councils if state authorities fail to respect the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government financial autonomy. The President made this position clear on Friday while addressing participants at the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The meeting took place at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, bringing together key party leaders and stakeholders. According to President Tinubu, the Supreme Court judgment granting financial independence to local governments must not remain symbolic. He emphasized that for autonomy at the grassroots level to have real impact, it must be supported by unrestricted access to statutory allocations meant for local councils. While reflecting on discussions held a day earlier during the 14th APC National Caucus meeting, the President noted that he had already drawn attention to the importance of enforcing local government autonomy. He stressed that without direct funding, local councils would remain unable to perform their constitutional responsibilities effectively. President Tinubu’s remarks suggest growing concern within the Federal Government that some state administrations may delay or resist implementing the court’s decision. He indicated that if such resistance continues, the Federal Government may be compelled to take decisive action to ensure compliance. By referencing the possibility of an Executive Order, the President signaled that enforcement mechanisms remain available to the presidency, especially where constitutional provisions and judicial pronouncements are not being fully respected. The warning serves as a reminder that the Supreme Court ruling on local government financial autonomy is binding and that meaningful governance at the grassroots level depends on unhindered access to allocated funds.
