Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Defying Supreme Court Ruling on LG Autonomy

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of deliberately refusing to enforce the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, describing the continued inaction as a constitutional breach with far-reaching consequences for grassroots development.

In a statement shared on his official X handle, Atiku said the Tinubu administration is approaching two years of ignoring a binding apex court ruling that directed the Federal Government to ensure direct FAAC allocations to local governments.

He argued that the failure to act goes beyond administrative delay and amounts to outright defiance of the law.

“This is not delay. It is defiance,” Atiku said, alleging that the judgment is being used as a political bargaining tool to pressure opposition governors and consolidate control within the ruling APC.

According to him, such conduct reduces constitutional governance to partisan negotiation.

Atiku stressed that Supreme Court rulings are final and non-negotiable, warning that continued refusal to implement the judgment violates both the Constitution and the presidential oath of office.

He further argued that denying local governments financial autonomy has crippled service delivery at the grassroots, noting that communities are bearing the cost through abandoned health centres, unpaid salaries, deteriorating roads and stalled development projects.

“You are not weakening governors, you are crippling communities, stalling development, and deepening poverty at the grassroots,” Atiku said.

The former vice president rejected the need for executive threats or political theatrics, insisting that the remedy is straightforward.

“The solution is simple: instruct the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce the judgment immediately,” he stated, warning that anything less reflects a failure of leadership.

Atiku concluded by cautioning that continued inaction sends a troubling signal that political dominance outweighs constitutional duty and economic justice, stressing that Nigerians and history will judge the moment accordingly.