2027 politics hinder local government financial autonomy despite Supreme Court ruling

The implementation of financial autonomy for Nigeria's 774 local government councils remains stalled, nearly two years after a Supreme Court ruling directed direct allocation from the Federation Account. Sources within the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress indicate that President Bola Tinubu's reluctance to confront state governors, who are crucial for his 2027 re-election bid, is a major factor. Many local governments across the country still receive funds through state governments, with officials in Kano, Plateau, and Kaduna states confirming the continued use of joint accounts and state control over fund disbursement. The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees NULGE attributes the delay to a lack of political will and calls for sanctions against the Accountant-General of the Federation for non-compliance. NULGE's National Secretary, Isah Gambo, argues that direct allocations would empower local governments to address security and development challenges. However, Jigawa State's ALGON Chairman, Sibu Abdullahi, reported that all 27 local government areas in his state now receive direct allocations, managing their finances independently. The African Democratic Congress ADC has accused President Tinubu of lacking the political will to enforce the Supreme Court judgment, suggesting his pronouncements are for public consumption rather than actual implementation, due to his reliance on governors for political support.