By Atoyebi Nike
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately implement the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, warning that continued delay is damaging communities.
In a statement on Wednesday, Atiku said Supreme Court decisions are final and must be enforced, describing non-compliance as a breach of the Constitution. He argued that withholding funds from local councils stalls development and deepens poverty at the grassroots.
Atiku called on the President to direct the Attorney-General to enforce the ruling without delay, saying anything less amounts to a failure of leadership.
The Supreme Court, in a July 11, 2024 judgment, affirmed the right of local governments to receive allocations directly from the Federation Account. President Tinubu has earlier warned that he may issue an executive order if states fail to comply.
