Atiku Abubakar Slams Tinubu Government for Allegedly Ignoring Supreme Court Ruling on Local Government Autonomy, Calls It Constitutional Breach Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to implement a binding Supreme Court judgment mandating direct FAAC allocations to local governments. In a statement issued on December 24, 2025, Atiku described the prolonged non-implementation as deliberate defiance of the Constitution rather than administrative delay, accusing the federal government of using compliance as a political tool to control governors. He warned that continued denial of local government financial autonomy is crippling grassroots development, worsening poverty, and undermining democratic governance, while urging the president to immediately direct the Attorney-General to enforce the court’s ruling. #AtikuAbubakar #LocalGovernmentAutonomy #SupremeCourtRuling

Niger LG Chairman Accuses Governor Bago of Withholding Funds, Blocking Council Duties in Shiroro Outgoing Shiroro Local Government chairman, Isyaku Akilu Kuta, has accused Niger State Governor Umar Bago of denying him access to funds, blocking his core responsibilities, and crippling service delivery throughout his tenure. Speaking at a farewell reception, Kuta said the governor’s control over council allocations prevented him from securing appointments, addressing insecurity, or executing development projects—leaving him unable to achieve even 30% of his goals. He alleged that Niger’s LGs received only N10 million monthly plus limited security votes, despite a 2024 Supreme Court ruling mandating full LG autonomy. Kuta condemned the hardships faced by unemployed graduates and retirees in Shiroro and criticized the state’s continued withholding of federal allocations as newly elected council chairmen prepare to assume office. #NigerStatePolitics #LocalGovernmentAutonomy #GovernorBago

Osun Drags FG To Supreme Court Over Withheld Council Funds The Osun State Government has sued the Federal Government at the Supreme Court over the alleged unconstitutional seizure of local government allocations since March 2025. In the suit filed by Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), Osun is asking the court to compel President Bola Tinubu’s administration to release the withheld funds meant for its 30 local councils, citing subsisting judgments that upheld the February 22, 2025, council elections. The state argued that the Attorney-General of the Federation lacks powers to block allocations or disregard court rulings. It is also seeking a perpetual injunction to stop future seizures of council funds. Osun insists that the Federal Government’s actions undermine Section 7 of the Constitution, which guarantees democratically elected local councils, and warned of a threat to grassroots governance. #OsunState #SupremeCourt #LocalGovernment

Newsbrief: Withholding of Osun LG Funds ‘Highly Political’ — Ozekhome Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mike Ozekhome has described the federal government’s withholding of Osun State local government funds as “highly political,” urging Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi to provide proper legal guidance to President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Channels Television, Ozekhome criticized the AGF for recommending funds be released to sacked APC officials, stressing that Osun’s duly elected councillors and chairmen should receive their allocations without delay. He cited past Supreme Court rulings affirming that the federal government cannot withhold legitimate local government funds. Osun State maintains there is no legal or political basis for the withholding, referencing the February 22 local elections and a June 13 Court of Appeal ruling upholding PDP officials. #OsunLGFunds #MikeOzekhome #PoliticalInterference #NigeriaLocalGovernments

News Brief: Adeleke Demands Release of Withheld Osun Council Funds Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has urged President Bola Tinubu to release local government funds withheld by the Federal Government, stressing there is “no legal basis” for their seizure. In a statement on Wednesday, Adeleke reaffirmed that APC chairmen were sacked by a court in 2022, while the PDP chairmen and councillors elected in February 2025 remain the lawful officeholders. He commended the Osun Council of Obas and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for backing the call, noting that court judgments and constitutional provisions guarantee local government financial autonomy. The NBA, in an August 19 letter to the Attorney General of the Federation, also demanded the immediate release of the funds, warning that withholding them amounts to a violation of the Constitution and undermines democratic institutions. The Association stressed that the continued seizure of Osun’s allocations since February 2025 weakens public trust, sets a dangerous precedent, and emboldens lawlessness. Adeleke vowed to defend the rights of Osun people through “rule of law and due process.” #Osun #Adeleke #Tinubu #LocalGovernment #PDP #APC #N

Benue Assembly Suspends Five Lawmakers for Tampering with LG Report The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended five members of the House Standing Committee on Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs for three sittings. The suspension follows allegations that they altered the report on the activities of the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, to cover up misappropriation and abuse of office. An ad-hoc committee has been set up to investigate the matter further. The suspended lawmakers are Hon. Shimawua Terna, Hon. Mathew Damkor, Hon. Cephas Dyako, Hon. Moses Egbodo, and Hon. Isaac Echekliye. #BenueAssembly #LocalGovernment #PoliticalAccountability #NigeriaPolitics

Power Struggle in Niger! Chanchaga LG Chairman Suspended After Suing State Over Tenure Dispute A political storm has erupted in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, as Chairman Aminu Yakubu Ladan has been suspended by 8 out of 10 councillors, just days after he filed a lawsuit against the state government and NSIEC over plans to conduct LG polls in November 2025. Ladan, who claims his four-year tenure is being cut short, sought a court injunction, citing a Supreme Court ruling. But the council fired back with nine allegations, including misappropriation of funds, abuse of office, and unauthorized contracts. The councillors invoked multiple sections of the Niger State Local Government Law, accusing him of dodging oversight, ignoring council summons, and undermining governance. He's been given five days to respond or face forfeiture of his right to defend himself. The drama follows his failed APC ticket bid ahead of the next election — raising questions about political motives behind the move. #ChanchagaLG #AminuLadan #NigerStatePolitics #LocalGovernmentCrisis #CouncilSuspension