Atiku described the continued non-implementation as a constitutional breach.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of allegedly disobeying a binding Supreme Court judgment on direct financial allocations to local governments.
Atiku described the continued non-implementation as a constitutional breach.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 24, Atiku said that by July next year, the Tinubu administration would have spent two full years allegedly ignoring the apex court’s directive mandating direct allocation of funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to local governments.
"Dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by July next year, your administration will have spent two full years deliberately ignoring a binding judgment of the Supreme Court directing the Federal Government to implement direct FAAC allocation to local governments."
The former vice president rejected suggestions that the delay was administrative, alleging that the inaction was intentional and politically motivated.
"This is not delay. It is defiance. Your refusal to act is a calculated political move—using obedience to the law as a bargaining chip to force opposition governors into the APC and to keep governors within your party firmly under your control. In doing so, you have reduced the Constitution to a tool of convenience and governance to partisan bargaining."
Atiku stressed that Supreme Court judgments are final and binding, warning that failure to enforce them amounts to a violation of the Constitution and the presidential oath of office.
"Let us be clear: Supreme Court judgments are final, not optional. Persistently refusing to enforce one is a direct breach of the Constitution and a violation of the oath you swore to Nigerians."
He further argued that the continued denial of financial autonomy to local governments was harming grassroots development, noting that councils are the closest tier of government to the people.
"Local governments are the closest arm of government to the people."
"By withholding their financial autonomy (which ironically you've been trumpeting as a core cardinal policy), you are not weakening governors, you are crippling communities, stalling development, and deepening poverty at the grassroots. Roads remain broken, health centres abandoned, salaries unpaid—not by accident, but by choice."
According to Atiku, enforcing the Supreme Court judgment requires no political theatrics, but decisive action by the executive.
"This situation does not require threats of Executive Orders or political drama. The solution is simple: instruct the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce the judgment immediately. Anything short of this is a failure of leadership."
He warned that continued inaction sends the wrong signal about the government’s priorities.
"Your continued inaction sends a clear message: that political control matters more than constitutional duty, that party dominance matters more than economic justice, and that regime survival outweighs the daily suffering of Nigerians already battered by harsh economic policies."
Atiku concluded by urging the president to respect the rule of law, warning that history would judge the administration’s actions.
"Nigeria deserves leadership that obeys the law it swore to protect, not one that bends it for political gain."
"History will not forget this moment. Nigerians will not either."