Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to ensure that local government allocations are paid directly to councils if he is elected president.
Atiku made the commitment in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, stressing the need for strict adherence to the rule of law and constitutional provisions governing Nigeria’s three tiers of government.
According to the former vice president, each tier of government should enjoy the level of independence guaranteed by the Constitution, particularly with regard to the management of public funds.
Atiku also referenced the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on local government financial autonomy, which directed that funds meant for local governments should be paid directly to the councils.
He alleged that the current administration has yet to fully implement the judgment.
The former vice president promised that, if elected, his administration would respect and implement court judgments, strengthen local government autonomy and ensure that public funds are transferred to the appropriate tier of government.
He maintained that allowing local councils to directly access their statutory allocations would strengthen grassroots governance and promote greater accountability in the management of public resources.
Atiku’s latest pledge comes amid ongoing national discussions over local government autonomy and the implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
