President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on state governors to fully implement the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, stressing that compliance can no longer be delayed.
The President made the appeal on Monday night while addressing the National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. APC governors and top party leaders were in attendance at the meeting, which traditionally precedes the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for today.
Tinubu reminded the governors that the Supreme Court, in July last year, ruled that funds meant for local government councils must be paid directly into their accounts rather than through the joint state-local government accounts. He noted that the ruling had yet to be fully implemented, prompting his intervention.
According to the President, genuine local government autonomy is impossible without direct access to funds. He urged party leaders to reflect on the judgment and its broader implications for governance and party positioning.
“Let us look at the recent Supreme Court judgment, what we can do with it and how well we can position our country and our party,” he said.
Tinubu insisted that the ruling must be implemented in both letter and spirit, arguing that councils cannot function effectively without financial independence.
“To me, the local government autonomy, as it is, must be effective. There is no autonomy without a funded mandate,” he said.
“We’ll give them their money directly. That’s the truth. That’ll comply with the Supreme Court order.”
The President also urged governors to demonstrate stronger leadership by ensuring effective governance and party coordination down to the grassroots level.
“You are in a leadership position and must yield and continue to promote, tolerate and be flexible. Get involved in whatever is happening in your various states, up to the local government level,” he added.
On security, Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to the establishment of state police, describing it as a key solution to Nigeria’s security challenges. He called on governors to support the initiative, noting that he had already assured international partners of Nigeria’s readiness to implement the reform.
“I had a very long discussion with the U.S. and Europeans. I was bragging to them that, definitely, we will use the state police to improve security,” the President said.
He explained that when his counterparts questioned his confidence, he pointed to the APC’s dominance across the country as a major advantage.
“They asked me if I’m confident, and I said yes. I have a party to depend on. I have a party that will make it happen, and God forbid, we will not fail,” he stated.
Tinubu further stressed that reconciliation, cooperation and accommodation within the party were critical to turning political strength into effective governance.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Tinubu’s leadership on national security, particularly the recent rescue of over 100 abducted children. He pledged the Senate’s full support for stronger legislative measures to tackle kidnapping and banditry.
Akpabio also praised the efforts of security agencies and expressed sympathy with the families of victims and fallen security personnel.
