President Bola Tinubu has taken a decisive step toward enforcing local government autonomy, directing that funds allocated to councils be released to them directly.
The move signals a renewed determination by the Federal Government to strengthen grassroots governance and ensure full compliance with recent judicial pronouncements.
The President made his position known during a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Addressing APC governors at the meeting, Tinubu urged them to desist from interfering with the finances of local governments.
He stressed that the Supreme Court judgment granting autonomy to local governments must go beyond rhetoric and be implemented in a concrete and effective manner nationwide.
According to Tinubu: “Let us equally look at the recent Supreme Court judgement. What can we do with it, and how well we can position our country and our party?
“To me, the local government autonomy is and must be effective. Let us give them. There is no autonomy without a funded mandate.
“We give them their money directly. That’s the truth. That’s compliance with the supreme court.”
The President explained that autonomy without direct access to funds would be meaningless, noting that local governments cannot function effectively or deliver development at the grassroots if their resources remain under the control of state authorities.
He also called on governors to demonstrate proactive and flexible leadership in managing their states.
Tinubu urged them to remain actively engaged in governance issues at all levels, including the local governments.
“You have to navigate this country; whether we like it or not, you are in the leadership position that must yield and continue to promote, tolerate and be flexible and get involved in whatever is happening in your various states, up to the local government level,” Tinubu said.
JOURNALIST101 recalls that the Supreme Court, in a 2023 ruling, granted financial autonomy to local governments, affirming their status as the third tier of government.
