Atiku Abubakar Promises Local Government Fund Autonomy

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has committed to ending state control of local government funds if he wins the 2027 general election. He stated that funds allocated for the 774 local government areas should be released directly to them immediately upon his inauguration.

Atiku emphasized the need for Nigeria to function as a true federation, where the three tiers of government operate independently as guaranteed by the Constitution. He referenced the July 2024 Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy, asserting that it should be fully implemented.

Atiku criticized the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu for not enforcing this judgment, suggesting that the Federal Government's reluctance to confront state governors regarding local government funds could be politically motivated. He argued that direct access to funds would empower local governments to address poverty and security challenges effectively.