Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to end state control of local government funds if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Atiku said his administration would ensure that funds meant for the 774 local government areas are released directly to them immediately after he is sworn into office.
The former vice president made the commitment in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo.
Atiku said Nigeria must operate as a true federation where the three tiers of government are allowed to exercise the independence guaranteed to them by the Constitution.
He also referred to the July 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court on local government financial autonomy, arguing that the decision should be fully implemented to ensure that councils have direct access to funds allocated to them.
According to Atiku, his administration would not allow political considerations to determine how public funds are distributed or managed.
“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,” he said.
He added that direct access to their allocations would enable local governments to provide more development at the grassroots, tackle poverty and improve their ability to address security challenges.
“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,” Atiku said.
The ADC presidential candidate accused the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of failing to enforce the Supreme Court judgment, alleging that the Federal Government was reluctant to confront state governors who had previously exercised control over local government funds.
Atiku further alleged that the continued control of council resources by state authorities could be politically motivated ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He described such a situation as unacceptable, insisting that public resources must be managed according to the law rather than political interests.
“While the Supreme Court had ruled in July 2024 that local government funds should be paid directly to local governments, the current administration of President Tinubu has failed to enforce this judgment,” the statement said.
Atiku’s latest promise comes amid his broader criticism of the Tinubu administration and his preparations for the 2027 presidential contest.
POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that Atiku recently criticised Tinubu after the President travelled to Europe for a three-week working vacation.
Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday, with his first destination announced as London, United Kingdom. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the President would return to Nigeria at the end of the working vacation and resume his official activities.
Reacting to the trip, Atiku argued that although Nigeria was not facing a constitutional vacuum, the country was experiencing what he called a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership.”
He questioned the decision for the President to leave the country at a time Nigerians were dealing with rising living costs, high petrol prices, expensive transportation, food insecurity and persistent insecurity.
“I have travelled, lived and spent time abroad, and I have never pretended otherwise. But there is a fundamental difference between the travels of a private citizen and the responsibility of the sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Atiku said.
He also expressed concern that Vice President Kashim Shettima was outside the country on official duty at the time of Tinubu’s departure.
“The Vice President is abroad on official duty. That makes the President’s decision even more difficult to understand. Leadership is not merely the constitutional right to occupy an office; it is the judgment to know when your country needs you at home,” he said.
Atiku used the situation of a family facing an emergency to illustrate his argument, saying leaders should remain physically present with their people during periods of serious crisis.
“A father may travel when all is well. But when his roof is burning and his family is trapped inside, he does not pick up his suitcase and head for the airport,” he said.
He further accused the Tinubu administration of being disconnected from the economic difficulties confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“A government that cannot feel the pain it inflicts will never summon the will to end it,” Atiku said.
The former vice president also presented himself as an alternative to the current administration ahead of the 2027 election, declaring, “Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again.”
However, presidential spokesman Sunday Dare defended Tinubu’s decision to proceed on the three-week working vacation.
Dare said the break was necessary for the President to “refuel” following several months of intensive engagement on national matters.
According to him, Tinubu had spent the previous six to seven months dealing with issues relating to the economy, security and other matters of state, making the period away from the country part of his annual working leave.
