President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s unwavering resolve to enforce the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on local government financial independence.
During an APC Caucus meeting at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, the 18th of December, 2025, the President issued a stern directive to governors under the ruling party’s banner, insisting that the era of interfering with council allocations must come to an end.
President Tinubu emphasized that judicial victories are meaningless without practical application. He argued that the true test of local government autonomy lies in the direct transfer of resources to the grassroots level, bypassing the state-controlled joint accounts that have historically centralized power.
Addressing the party leadership, Tinubu stated: “Let us equally look at the recent Supreme Court judgement. What can we do with it, and how well we can position our country and our party?
“To me, the local government autonomy is and must be effective. Let us give them. There is no autonomy without a funded mandate.
“We give them their money directly. That’s the truth. That’s compliance with the supreme court.”
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Beyond financial matters, the President challenged governors to adopt a more “flexible” and “hands-on” approach to governance. He urged them to remain deeply connected to the realities within their states, ensuring that the benefits of democracy reach every local community.
“You have to navigate this country; whether we like it or not, you are in the leadership position that must yield and continue to promote, tolerate and be flexible and get involved in whatever is happening in your various states, up to the local government level,” Tinubu said.
The President’s remarks come as part of a broader push for structural reforms, including the proposed establishment of state police, which he also championed during the caucus meeting. By demanding “practical and effective” compliance with the Supreme Court, the administration aims to revitalise the 774 local government areas as independent drivers of development.