{
  "id": 4920669,
  "title": "Atiku: LG funds will go directly to councils if I’m elected President",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/atiku-lg-funds-will-go-directly-to-councils-if-im-elected-president",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T18:24:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/atiku-lg-funds-will-go-directly-to-councils-if-im-elected-president/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Vice-President and presidential hopeful of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has committed to enforcing a recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy if he secures the presidency in the 2027 election. His administration, according to Atiku, would ensure funds designated for the 774 local government areas (LGAs) are paid directly to them instead of passing through state governments. This stance was detailed in a statement released on Tuesday by Atiku's spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo. The former vice-president emphasized his dedication to upholding the rule of law and bolstering the financial and administrative independence of local governments. The Supreme Court, on July 11, 2024, ruled that allocations from the Federation Account to the 774 local government councils should be disbursed directly to these councils. Despite this ruling, some states have yet to fully comply with the directive. If elected, Atiku pledged to ensure strict adherence to the court's decision and utilize local government autonomy to foster development at the grassroots level. He explained that direct access to funds would enable local governments to implement development projects and public services more efficiently, bringing governance closer to the people. Atiku also argued that enhanced financial independence for local governments would improve their capacity to tackle security issues, including crime and terrorism, and help alleviate poverty. However, Atiku criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration for not enforcing the Supreme Court judgment on direct payments to local governments. He alleged that the current administration had been hesitant to challenge certain state governors over the issue, using the funds as a \"enticement\" to secure their support for Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027. Atiku stressed that restoring genuine local government autonomy would be a critical aspect of his administration's governance and federalism approach, as direct access to funds would enhance accountability and ensure that resources meant for grassroots development were utilized accordingly.",
  "summary": "Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to enforce the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy if elected president. Atiku said his administration would ensure that funds allocated to the 774 local government areas (LGAs) from the Federation Account were paid directly […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "LG funds will go directly to council accounts if I’m President – Atiku",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/lg-funds-will-go-directly-to-council-accounts-if-im-president-atiku",
        "published": "2026-09-01T19:20:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}