Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for allegedly failing to implement a Supreme Court ruling on the direct allocation of funds to local governments. Atiku called the continued non-implementation a constitutional breach, emphasizing that the government’s inaction violated the nation’s laws.

In a statement issued on December 24, 2025, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of deliberately ignoring the binding ruling from the country’s highest court, which mandates that funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) be sent directly to local governments. He pointed out that by July 2026, the administration would have spent two years defying this ruling.

“This is Defiance, Not Delay”

Atiku rejected claims that the delay in implementing the ruling was administrative. He argued that the inaction was intentional and driven by political motives. According to Atiku, the federal government was using its disobedience to the law as a tool to manipulate opposition governors, urging them to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and maintain control over governors in the party.

“This is not delay. It is defiance,” Atiku said. “Your refusal to act is a calculated political move—using obedience to the law as a bargaining chip to force opposition governors into the APC and to keep governors within your party firmly under your control.”

Breach of the Constitution and Oath of Office

Atiku stressed that Supreme Court rulings are final and should be enforced immediately. He argued that by refusing to implement the court’s directive, the government was not only violating the Constitution but also breaching President Tinubu’s oath of office.

“Let us be clear: Supreme Court judgments are final, not optional,” Atiku declared. “Persistently refusing to enforce one is a direct breach of the Constitution and a violation of the oath you swore to Nigerians.”

Impact on Grassroots Development

The former vice president highlighted the negative impact of withholding financial autonomy from local governments, which are the closest tier of government to the people. Atiku noted that the failure to allocate funds directly to local governments was hampering grassroots development, leaving essential services like healthcare, infrastructure, and education in disrepair.

“By withholding their financial autonomy, you are not weakening governors, you are crippling communities, stalling development, and deepening poverty at the grassroots,” Atiku said. “Roads remain broken, health centres abandoned, salaries unpaid—not by accident, but by choice.”

Urging Immediate Action

Atiku emphasized that enforcing the Supreme Court’s judgment required no political theatrics. He called on the federal government to take decisive action by instructing the Attorney-General of the Federation to immediately enforce the ruling.

“This situation does not require threats of Executive Orders or political drama,” Atiku stated. “The solution is simple: instruct the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce the judgment immediately. Anything short of this is a failure of leadership.”

Message on Government Priorities

Atiku warned that the continued inaction would send a wrong message about the Tinubu administration’s priorities. He argued that the government’s reluctance to comply with the Supreme Court ruling indicated that political control was valued more than constitutional duty and economic justice for Nigerians.

“Your continued inaction sends a clear message: that political control matters more than constitutional duty, that party dominance matters more than economic justice, and that regime survival outweighs the daily suffering of Nigerians already battered by harsh economic policies,” Atiku stated.

A Call for Leadership that Upholds the Law

Atiku concluded his statement by urging President Tinubu to respect the rule of law and warned that history would judge the administration’s actions harshly. He appealed for a leadership that prioritizes the rule of law and the welfare of Nigerians over political interests.

“Nigeria deserves leadership that obeys the law it swore to protect, not one that bends it for political gain,” Atiku said. “History will not forget this moment. Nigerians will not either.”