President Bola Tinubu to Governors: Local Government Autonomy Without Money Is a Fraud

President Bola Tinubu has renewed the national conversation on grassroots governance by strongly reaffirming his administration’s commitment to full and effective local government autonomy. Speaking at a high-level APC caucus meeting, the President emphasized that autonomy is meaningless without strict adherence to constitutional and judicial provisions that guarantee financial independence for local councils. His remarks were widely interpreted as a direct call to action for state governors across the federation.

President Bola Tinubu stressed that the Supreme Court’s position on local government autonomy leaves no room for ambiguity. According to him, the mandate is clear: funds meant for local governments must be released to them directly, without interference or diversion. He warned that any deviation from this principle undermines democracy, weakens service delivery, and erodes public trust at the grassroots level.

President Bola Tinubu’s statement comes at a time when concerns over poor local governance, delayed salaries, and stalled community projects continue to dominate public discourse. By placing the issue squarely before party leaders and governors, the President signaled that local government reform is no longer optional but a central pillar of his governance agenda.

President Bola Tinubu Insists Supreme Court Ruling Must Be Fully Implemented

President Bola Tinubu made it clear that compliance with the Supreme Court ruling on local government funding is not a matter of political convenience but a constitutional obligation. He noted that true autonomy cannot exist when local councils depend on state-controlled joint accounts to access funds allocated to them by the federation.

President Bola Tinubu explained that the direct disbursement of funds to local governments is essential for accountability and transparency. When councils receive their allocations directly, he argued, citizens can better track spending, demand results, and hold their elected local officials responsible for development outcomes.

President Bola Tinubu further warned that continued non-compliance with the Supreme Court ruling would perpetuate inefficiency and underdevelopment at the grassroots. He urged governors to see the ruling not as a threat to state authority but as a pathway to strengthening democracy from the bottom up.

President Bola Tinubu Calls on Governors to Strengthen Grassroots Governance

President Bola Tinubu used the APC caucus platform to appeal directly to governors, urging them to take ownership of the local government autonomy reform in their respective states. He emphasized that governors play a critical role in ensuring that constitutional provisions translate into real benefits for ordinary Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu noted that local governments are closest to the people and are best positioned to address everyday challenges such as primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, and sanitation. Without financial independence, he said, councils remain weak administrative extensions rather than vibrant engines of development.

President Bola Tinubu also highlighted that empowering local governments would ease pressure on state and federal authorities. By allowing councils to function effectively, governors can foster inclusive development, reduce rural-urban migration, and promote political stability at the community level.

President Bola Tinubu Frames Local Government Autonomy as a Democratic Imperative

President Bola Tinubu described local government autonomy as a democratic necessity rather than a policy experiment. He argued that democracy cannot thrive when the tier of government closest to the people is financially strangled or administratively controlled from above.

President Tinubu linked effective local government autonomy to national development, stating that economic growth, social inclusion, and security all begin at the grassroots. When councils have execute, and sustain projects that directly impact citizens’ lives.

President Tinubu concluded by urging unity of purpose within the APC and beyond, calling on all stakeholders to prioritize constitutionalism and good governance over short-term political interests. He reaffirmed that his administration will continue to advocate for reforms that deepen democracy, strengthen institutions, and ensure that local government autonomy works in practice, not just in theory.