By Nworisa Michael
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of deliberately ignoring a binding Supreme Court judgment directing the Federal Government to implement direct Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements to local governments.
In a strongly worded statement issued a few hours ago, Atiku described the federal government’s continued failure to enforce the judgment as “defiance” rather than delay, alleging that the inaction is a calculated political strategy.
According to Atiku, the refusal to implement direct FAAC allocation is being used as leverage to pressure opposition governors into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and to maintain control over governors within the party. He warned that such actions reduce constitutional governance to partisan bargaining.
He stressed that Supreme Court judgments are final and mandatory, noting that persistent refusal to enforce one amounts to a breach of the Constitution and a violation of the presidential oath of office.
Atiku further argued that local governments, as the closest tier of government to the people, are being crippled by the lack of financial autonomy. He linked the situation to stalled development at the grassroots, abandoned infrastructure, unpaid salaries, and worsening poverty in communities across the country.
The former vice president dismissed the need for executive threats or political theatrics, insisting that the solution lies in directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to immediately enforce the court judgment.
He concluded by warning that prioritising political control over constitutional responsibility undermines economic justice and deepens the hardship faced by Nigerians, adding that both history and the public will remember the government’s response to the issue.