President Bola Tinubu has directed the 36 state governors to release local government allocations directly to the councils, in line with the recent Supreme Court judgment. He said genuine local government autonomy cannot exist without proper funding and stressed that compliance with the ruling is non-negotiable.
The President spoke on Tuesday at the 14th APC National Caucus meeting held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. He urged governors and party leaders to be flexible, tolerant and more involved in governance at the grassroots, especially in rural communities.
Tinubu disclosed that he has assured leaders of the United States and the European Union that Nigeria will establish state police to better tackle insecurity across the country. According to him, the ruling party has the numbers and unity needed to make the reform a reality.
“I told them clearly that we will pass state police to improve security. I am confident because I have a party that can make it happen,” the President said. He added that reconciliation, accommodation and cooperation within the party are key to achieving national goals.
On local government autonomy, Tinubu insisted that councils must receive their funds directly. “There is no autonomy without a funded mandate. We will give them their money directly. That is compliance with the Supreme Court judgment,” he said, calling on leaders to take responsibility seriously.
The President also condoled with the Bayelsa State government over the death of the deputy governor and called for greater inclusion of women in the APC caucus.
Earlier, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, praised what he described as growing national acceptance of the party. He cited recent defections, an electronic membership registration system and plans for a new national secretariat as signs of progress.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas both called for unity and respect among party members, noting that governors remain key leaders of the party at the state level.
