Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately enforce the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, warning that any further delay undermines the Constitution.
In a unanimous ruling delivered in July 2024, the apex court declared it unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds meant for local government areas.
The court also ruled that the use of caretaker committees places local councils under the control of state governments, in violation of the 1999 Constitution.
Speaking at the weekend during the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu had urged governors to comply with the judgment, warning that failure to do so could force him to issue an Executive Order to ensure direct allocations from the Federation Account to local governments.
Reacting via social media, Atiku accused the President of politicising the ruling 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 (ADC) chieftain, alleged that Tinubu’s inaction was deliberate and politically motivated.
“Your refusal to act is a calculated political move—using obedience to the law as a bargaining chip to coerce opposition governors into the APC and to keep governors within your party firmly under your control,” Atiku wrote.
He further stated that such conduct reduces the Constitution to a tool of political convenience, stressing that Supreme Court judgments are final and not subject to negotiation.
Atiku warned that continued refusal to enforce the ruling amounts to a breach of constitutional duty.
“Persistently refusing to enforce a Supreme Court judgment is a direct violation of the Constitution and a breach of the oath you swore to Nigerians,” he said.
Concluding, the former vice president cautioned that history would judge the current administration harshly over the issue.
“Your continued inaction sends a clear message that political control matters more than constitutional responsibility. History will not forget this moment, and neither will Nigerians,” he added.