Atiku pledges direct LG funding if elected in 2027

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to release local government allocations directly to councils immediately after being sworn in as President in 2027.

In a statement signed by his official spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, Atiku said the move is necessary to uphold the rule of law and guarantee constitutional independence for all tiers of government.

“Atiku Abubakar believes that Nigeria should be governed by the rule of law, and as President, he will uphold the rule of law and build a truly federal Nigeria where every tier of government enjoys the constitutional independence it deserves,” the statement said.

Atiku faulted the current administration for failing to implement the Supreme Court ruling of July 2024, which ordered that local government funds be paid directly to local governments.

“Atiku acknowledges that the Supreme Court had ruled in July 2024 that local government funds should be paid directly to local governments. Yet, the current administration of President Tinubu has failed to enforce this judgment, seemingly to avoid confronting the gluttonous APC State Governors who previously controlled these funds, as an enticement to them to use the Local Government funds to buy votes for Tinubu in 2027 presidential election,” Okonkwo stated.

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“This is not the Nigeria we should accept.”

According to the statement, Atiku said direct funding of local governments would bring development closer to the people and strengthen security at the grassroots.

“My administration will respect court judgments, protect local government autonomy, ensure that public funds reach the people for whom they are meant, and restore true federalism,”…