The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to ensure that federal allocations meant for Nigeria’s local governments are paid directly to the councils if he is elected President in 2027.
Atiku made the promise in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, and shared on X.
The former Vice President said his administration would uphold the rule of law and guarantee the constitutional independence of all tiers of government, including local councils.
He also cited the Supreme Court judgment delivered in July 2024, which affirmed the financial autonomy of local governments, accusing the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to fully implement the ruling.
According to Atiku, the alleged failure to enforce the judgment was partly driven by concerns over confrontation with state governors, who have historically exercised significant control over local government finances.
“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,” Atiku said.
He argued that direct funding would promote grassroots development, reduce poverty and strengthen the ability of local governments to tackle insecurity, including crime and terrorism.
Atiku further alleged that political considerations ahead of the 2027 presidential election were influencing the handling of local government funds.
He claimed that governors were being allowed to retain control over council allocations in exchange for political support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“This is not the Nigeria we should accept,” the former Vice President said.
The pledge comes amid continued concerns over the implementation of the Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment on local government financial autonomy.
Despite the ruling, implementation has remained contentious, with significant federal allocations continuing to be distributed to the third tier of government without the full level of direct financial independence envisaged by the judgment.
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