President Bola Tinubu has warned state governors that he may issue an executive order to enforce direct allocation of funds to local governments if they fail to comply with the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s third tier of government.
Tinubu issued the warning on Friday while addressing the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
Speaking before APC governors, members of the National Working Committee and other party leaders, the president reminded them that the Supreme Court had already settled the matter.
“The Supreme Court has capped it for you again, saying give them their money directly,” Tinubu said. “If you wait for my executive order, because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it.”
He added that while he had exercised restraint so far, continued non-compliance would compel action.
“I’m just being very respectful and understanding with my governors. Otherwise, if you don’t start to implement it, FAC after FAC, you will see,” he warned, gesturing emphatically.
On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Federal Government in a suit seeking to enforce financial autonomy for local governments. The court ordered that allocations from the Federation Account be paid directly to local councils, as provided under Sections 162(5–8) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
A seven-member panel of the apex court declared it unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds meant for local councils through joint accounts.
“The ultimate goal is our Supreme Court. We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” Tinubu said.
Describing the APC as the country’s largest political party, Tinubu commended its dominance across the political landscape but urged the leadership to strengthen party structures at the grassroots.
He noted that weak local government and ward-level organisation created governance gaps, particularly in states not controlled by the party.
“We can easily rely on the state governors. But what about the states where we have no governors?” he asked.
Reflecting on the challenges leading up to the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu recalled the fuel scarcity and cash crunch triggered by the naira redesign policy.
“There was a wild bush fire, the currency redesign, the queues at petrol stations. People died, not able to eat one meal a day because of lack of money, just for one election,” he said.
The president thanked God for the APC’s electoral victories in 28 states.
On security reforms, Tinubu urged the National Assembly to summon the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to advance discussions on the establishment of state police.
“National Assembly, please summon the IG and start looking at the constitution, and which way to go to control and prevent abuses. We are going for state police,” he said.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to clearing forests of criminal elements through the deployment of forest rangers.
“We will defeat those terrorists and bandits. We must,” the president declared.
Tinubu expressed support for National Assembly bills seeking greater constitutional accommodation for women, while cautioning against federal overreach in matters reserved for states.
He specifically rejected federal control of lotteries, describing it as a residual matter under the constitution and therefore within the purview of state governments.
