Politics Allegedly Delaying LG Financial Autonomy president Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections are reportedly slowing the implementation of financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, according to findings by Sunday PUNCH.
Despite a Supreme Court judgment directing that allocations be paid directly to local government councils, most councils across the country are said to still receive their monthly funds through state governments, nearly two years after the ruling.Sources within the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), quoted by Sunday PUNCH, claimed that President Tinubu has yet to fully enforce local government financial autonomy because of concerns about straining relations with state governors, who are considered key stakeholders in his expected re-election campaign in 2027.The development comes about six months after the President warned that he could issue an Executive Order to compel the direct disbursement of allocations from the Federation Account to local government councils in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment.
The delay has continued to fuel concerns among governance and transparency advocates, who argue that full implementation of local government financial autonomy is essential to strengthen grassroots governance, improve accountability, and enhance service delivery across the country
Joseph Akwagiobe is a media contributor from Cross River State, Nigeria, currently based in Abuja. He is a graduate of Microbiology and has earned several professional certifications across diverse fields, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and excellence.