President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern warning to state governors, insisting that his administration will enforce full financial autonomy for local governments in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
According to sources at the Presidency, Tinubu cautioned that if governors continue to delay or undermine the implementation of the judgment, he may resort to signing an Executive Order to mandate direct deductions from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for local governments.
The President reportedly expressed frustration over what he described as deliberate resistance by some state governments, noting that local councils remain financially strangled despite clear constitutional provisions and the apex court’s decision affirming their autonomy.
Tinubu emphasized that local government autonomy is critical to grassroots development, improved service delivery, and accountability, stressing that funds meant for councils must no longer be diverted or controlled by state governments.
He urged governors to voluntarily comply with the ruling, warning that failure to do so would leave the Federal Government with no option but to act decisively to protect the constitution and ensure local governments receive their allocations directly.
The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that state governments have no right to withhold or tamper with funds allocated to local councils, declaring such practices unconstitutional.
As tensions rise between the Federal Government and the states over the issue, the President’s warning signals a possible showdown, with LG autonomy now set to become one of the most consequential governance battles in the country.
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