2027: Atiku pledges direct payment of local government funds

Atiku Abubakar has pledged that funds allocated to Nigeria’s local governments would be paid directly to them immediately after he became president.

The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate made the promise in a statement signed and posted on X by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo. He said his administration would uphold the rule of law and protect the constitutional independence of every level of government, including local councils.

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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 referred to a Supreme Court judgment delivered in July 2024 on local government financial autonomy. He accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to enforce the ruling to avoid confrontation with state governors, who previously controlled local government funds.

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This move will ensure that development is brought to the grassroots, reduce poverty at the level of government nearest to the people, and guarantee financial independence to the local governments which will increase their capacity to fight crimes and terrorism at that level.

He said direct transfers would bring development closer to communities, reduce poverty and give local governments greater financial independence to fight crime and terrorism. Atiku also alleged that the administration’s position reflected political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election, claiming governors were being allowed to retain control of local funds as an incentive to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Implementation of the Supreme Court ruling remains stalled, according to the report, despite 10.48 trillion naira being allocated to local governments over the period discussed.

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This is not the Nigeria we should accept.