(Atiku Abubakar. Photo Credit: Vanguard News)
Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, has pledged to ensure that local government councils get their money directly from the national budget if he wins next year’s election.
This follows a court ruling from July 2024 that said local governments should receive their funds straight from the federation account without state governments taking a cut first.
Atiku said his administration would respect the court’s decision and make local government independence a priority.
Getting money directly would give councils more power to deliver basic services and carry out development projects in their communities.
He argued that stronger local governments with their own funds could fight crime and terrorism better at the grassroots level and reduce poverty where people actually live.
Right now, some states have not followed the court order, which has left local councils without resources.
Atiku criticized President Tinubu’s government for not enforcing the ruling.
He claimed the administration has deliberately avoided pushing state governors to follow the court order because they want to keep using local government money as a reward to governors who will support Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
By allowing governors to control these funds, Atiku said, the government is essentially paying them to secure votes.
He said giving local governments proper control of their money would make them more accountable and ensure funds actually get spent on development at the grassroots, not diverted elsewhere.
