Tinubu Threatens To Slash State Allocations Over Non-Compliance With Local Government Autonomy Ruling
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned state governors that their monthly allocations may be reduced if they continue to reject the implementation of full local government autonomy as ordered by the Supreme Court.
Speaking on Friday, December 19, during the 15th APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, President Tinubu said he was prepared to issue an executive directive to enforce compliance if necessary.
According to him, the federal government cannot continue to allow a situation where local governments are denied access to their constitutionally guaranteed funds. Tinubu stressed that state leaders must respect the Supreme Court judgment mandating direct statutory allocations to the 774 local government councils across Nigeria.
“I have the knife and the yam” — Tinubu warns
Tinubu, in a strongly worded remark, hinted that drastic measures could be taken to ensure governors uphold the ruling.
He stated:
“If you wait for my Executive Order, because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it.”
The President added that any state government found obstructing financial autonomy at the grassroots level risks facing cuts to its federal allocation.
Push for grassroots governance reform
The warning comes months after the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment strengthening local government financial independence. The ruling ordered FAAC to pay LG allocations directly to councils, bypassing state control.
However, several governors have been accused of resisting the directive — a development that has continued to attract criticism from civil society groups, labour unions, and political stakeholders.
Tinubu insisted that grassroots autonomy remains a core priority of his administration, stressing that true federalism cannot exist without empowered local governments.
Support for state police initiative
During the same address, Tinubu reaffirmed his support for the creation of state police, describing it as a necessary step to address insecurity nationwide.
He urged political leaders to prioritise national interest and work collectively to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
What this means
If implemented, reduced FAAC allocations could trigger major budgetary disruptions at the state level, setting up a new chapter in the long-standing struggle for LG autonomy.
The development is expected to spark intense political debate in the coming days as Nigerians watch closely to see how state governors respond.
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