Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately implement the Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments, warning that continued delay undermines the Constitution.

In a unanimous judgment delivered in July 2024, the apex court declared it unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds allocated to local government areas. The ruling also held that the use of caretaker committees places local councils under state control, violating the 1999 Constitution.

Over the weekend, during the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu urged governors to comply with the ruling. He warned that failure to do so could force him to issue an Executive Order allowing direct allocations from the Federation Account to local governments.

Responding via social media, Atiku accused the President of politicising the judgment and failing to take decisive action to enforce it.

“At this point, there is no need for threats of Executive Orders,” Atiku said. “All the President needs to do is instruct the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce the judgment immediately. Anything short of this is a failure of leadership.”

The former vice president, an African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader, alleged that Tinubu’s inaction is deliberate and politically motivated.

“Your refusal to act is a calculated political move—using compliance with the law as a bargaining chip to entice opposition governors into the APC and to maintain strict control over governors within your party,” Atiku wrote.

He added, “In doing so, you have reduced the Constitution to a tool of convenience and governance for partisan bargaining. Supreme Court judgments are final, not optional.”

Atiku warned that continued inaction constitutes a breach of constitutional duty.

“Persistently refusing to enforce the ruling is a direct violation of the Constitution and the oath you swore to Nigerians,” he said.

Concluding, the former vice president cautioned that history would judge the current administration harshly over the issue.

“Your continued inaction sends a clear message that political control matters more than constitutional duty. History will not forget this moment, and Nigerians will not either,” he added.