2027: Atiku Vows To Pay Local Government Funds Directly To Councils

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to ensure that funds allocated to local governments are paid directly to the 774 councils if elected president in 2027.

Atiku made the pledge in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, in which the former vice-president also promised to uphold the rule of law and strengthen local government autonomy.

The pledge comes against the backdrop of a July 11, 2024, Supreme Court judgment directing that allocations from the Federation Account meant for local governments should be paid directly to the councils rather than being controlled by state governments.

The judgment followed a suit filed by the Federal Government against the 36 state governors over the administration and funding of local governments.

Despite the ruling, some states have yet to fully comply with the directive.

Atiku said his administration would ensure that the judgment was implemented and that public funds reached the level of government for which they were intended.

“My administration will respect court judgments, protect local government autonomy, ensure that public funds reach the people for whom they are meant, and restore true federalism,” he said.

According to the former vice-president, direct funding would bring governance and development closer to Nigerians at the grassroots while helping to reduce poverty.

He also argued that financial independence would strengthen local governments and improve their capacity to respond to security challenges, including crime and terrorism.

Atiku, however, accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to enforce the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy.

He alleged that the Federal Government had been reluctant to confront APC governors who, according to him, previously exercised control over local government funds.

“Atiku acknowledges that the Supreme Court had ruled on July 2024 that local government funds should be paid directly to local governments,” his statement said.

“Yet, the current administration of President Tinubu has failed to enforce this judgment, seemingly to avoid confronting the gluttonous APC State Governors who previously controlled these funds, as an enticement to them to use the Local Government funds to buy votes for Tinubu in 2027 presidential election.”

The ADC candidate maintained that enforcing direct funding would promote accountability, strengthen grassroots governance and deepen Nigeria’s federal system.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu had in December warned state governors that he could issue an executive order to enforce the direct allocation of funds to local governments if they failed to comply with the Supreme Court ruling.