President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent a long-anticipated message to the 36 state governors following the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling affirming financial and administrative autonomy for local governments.
The message, conveyed through official channels, comes days after the apex court faulted the Federal Government and state governments over practices that undermine the independence of local councils, particularly the control of local government funds through state joint accounts.
In his communication to the governors, President Tinubu reportedly urged strict compliance with the Supreme Court judgment, stressing that the ruling must be respected in the interest of democracy, grassroots development and the rule of law. He emphasised that local governments are a constitutionally recognised tier of government and should be allowed to function without undue interference.
The president also called on governors to work collaboratively with the Federal Government to implement reforms that would strengthen accountability, transparency and service delivery at the local government level. According to sources, Tinubu warned that continued violations of the ruling could attract legal and constitutional consequences.
The Supreme Court had, in a recent judgment, declared that the practice of withholding or controlling local government allocations by state governments is unconstitutional, insisting that funds meant for councils must be paid directly to them.
The ruling has sparked nationwide reactions, with civil society groups, labour unions and governance advocates welcoming it as a major step toward entrenching grassroots governance. However, some governors have expressed concerns over capacity, accountability and security challenges at the local government level.
President Tinubu’s intervention is seen as a critical move to ensure nationwide adherence to the judgment and to prevent resistance from state governments as implementation begins.
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