DEVELOPMENT
President Tinubu Issues Stern Warning to Governors Over Local Government Funds, Threatens Executive Order to Enforce Supreme Court Ruling on Financial Autonomy
President Bola Tinubu has issued a strong warning to state governors, declaring that he may be compelled to invoke an Executive Order to enforce direct allocation of funds to local governments should states continue to disregard a recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s third tier of government.
The President delivered the warning on Friday at the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, with governors, members of the party’s National Working Committee, and other key leaders in attendance.
In a veiled but unmistakably firm rebuke of governors accused of withholding statutory allocations meant for local councils, Tinubu cautioned that continued non-compliance could force the Federal Government to bypass state structures and directly disburse local government funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
Addressing the gathering, the President referenced the authority of the apex court and underscored the binding nature of its decision, stating, “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.”
He further stressed that while he has exercised restraint in dealing with the governors, his patience is not limitless.
“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 followed the landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court on July 11, 2024, in which the court ruled in favour of the Federal Government’s suit seeking to entrench financial independence for local governments across the country.
In a unanimous decision, a seven-member panel of the apex court declared it unconstitutional for state governments to retain, control, or manage funds allocated to local government councils. The court ordered that allocations from the Federation Account must be paid directly to local governments, in line with the provisions of Section 162(5–8) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Despite the clear constitutional backing, the judgment also spotlighted long-standing violations by many state governments, which have routinely operated joint accounts that effectively deny local councils access to their funds.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to the rule of law, Tinubu emphasized that compliance with the Supreme Court judgment is non-negotiable and warned that persistent violations could invite federal intervention.
“The ultimate goal is our Supreme Court. We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” the President insisted.
The warning signals a potentially decisive shift in federal–state relations over local government administration and places renewed pressure on governors to align with constitutional provisions and judicial pronouncements on grassroots governance.