Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy for local governments. The ruling, delivered in July 2024, deemed it unconstitutional for state governments to control funds allocated to local government areas. Atiku’s statement comes after President Tinubu urged governors to comply with the ruling, warning that failure to do so might lead to an Executive Order for direct allocations from the Federation Account to local governments.

The Supreme Court’s judgment also ruled that the use of caretaker committees places local councils under state control, violating the 1999 Constitution. Atiku criticized the President’s approach, stating that there is no need for threats of Executive Orders and that the President should instruct the Attorney-General to enforce the judgment immediately. He alleged that the President’s inaction is deliberate and politically motivated, aiming to force opposition governors into the All Progressives Congress (APC) and maintain control over party members.

Atiku emphasized that Supreme Court judgments are final and not optional, and that refusing to enforce them is a breach of constitutional duty. He warned that continued refusal to enforce the ruling would be seen as prioritizing political control over constitutional duty, which would be remembered by history and the Nigerian people.

The call for enforcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling highlights the ongoing debate about the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria. The 1999 Constitution grants local governments a degree of autonomy, but in practice, state governments have often exerted significant control over their finances and operations. The Supreme Court’s ruling aims to address this issue and ensure that local governments have the necessary resources to fulfill their responsibilities.

The situation is being closely watched by Nigerians, who are awaiting the President’s next steps on the matter. The enforcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling would be a significant development in the country’s governance structure, potentially leading to greater autonomy for local governments and more effective service delivery to citizens. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the President will respond to the calls for enforcement and what implications this will have for the country’s governance and political landscape.