President Bola Tinubu has warned state governors that he may issue an Executive Order to enforce direct allocations to local governments if they fail to comply with the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming financial autonomy for councils.
The President issued the warning on Friday while addressing members of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
Speaking pointedly on the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local councils, Tinubu cautioned that persistent non-compliance could compel the Federal Government to deduct council funds directly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
Addressing governors, members of the party’s National Working Committee and other stakeholders at the meeting, the President stressed that the apex court had already spoken clearly on the matter.
“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 added that the Federal Government had so far exercised restraint, warning that patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
“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’s remarks came against the backdrop of the July 11, 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court, which upheld the Federal Government’s suit seeking to enforce financial autonomy for local governments.
In its unanimous decision, the seven-man panel of the apex court ruled that it was unconstitutional for state governments to withhold or manage funds allocated to local councils, ordering that allocations be paid directly from the Federation Account in line with the 1999 Constitution.
Reiterating his stance, the President urged governors to comply with the ruling, warning that continued violations could attract federal intervention.
“The ultimate goal is our Supreme Court. We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” he said.
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