Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately enforce the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, accusing the President of deliberately ignoring the ruling for political reasons.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered in July 2024, ruled that it is unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds allocated to local government areas. The court also declared the use of caretaker committees illegal, stating that such arrangements place local councils under state control in violation of the 1999 Constitution.
President Tinubu, speaking at the weekend during the 15th National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, had called on governors to comply with the ruling. He warned that continued non compliance could force him to issue an Executive Order to ensure direct allocation of funds from the Federation Account to local governments.
Reacting through his social media platforms, Atiku accused the President of politicising the court judgment and failing to take concrete 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, an African Democratic Congress chieftain, alleged that Tinubu’s inaction was intentional and driven by political calculations.
“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 accused the President of reducing the Constitution to a tool for partisan negotiation.
“In doing so, you have reduced the Constitution to a tool of convenience and governance to partisan bargaining. Supreme Court judgments are final, not optional,” he stated.
Atiku warned that continued failure to enforce the ruling amounts to a breach of constitutional responsibility.
“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 the current administration would be judged by history over the matter.
“Your continued inaction sends a clear message that political control matters more than constitutional duty. History will not forget this moment. Nigerians will not either,” Atiku added.
