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From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Barrister Donald Amamgbo has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a bold, principled, and historic stand in defence of the Constitution and the financial autonomy of local government councils across Nigeria.
Reacting to President Tinubu’s stern warning to state governors during the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Amamgbo in a statement made available to the SUN on Sunday said the President’s intervention was long overdue and decisive in ending the systemic diversion of funds meant for grassroots development.
According to the ADC candidate of the recent Anambra South Senatorial election , the Supreme Court’s landmark judgement mandating that allocations from the Federation Account be paid directly into local government council accounts leaves no room for ambiguity or manipulation.
He stressed that the ruling is final, binding, and must be obeyed by all state governors without exception.
“The President has once again shown uncommon courage by standing firmly on the side of the Constitution and the Nigerian people. Compliance with the Supreme Court judgement on local government funds is not a matter of choice or convenience; it is a constitutional duty. Any attempt to undermine it amounts to open defiance of the highest court in the land,” Amamgbo declared.
He aligned fully with President Tinubu’s position that governors, having overseen the conduct of local government elections in their respective states, must accept responsibility for the councils and allow them to function independently.
He noted that denying councils direct access to their statutory allocations undermines democracy and cripples development at the grassroots.
Amamgbo further argued that true federalism cannot thrive where local governments exist merely in name, without financial capacity to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.
He said the President’s stance sends a clear message that the era of treating local councils as appendages of state governments must come to an end.
However, the legal practitioner also issued a strong caution to local government chairmen and officials nationwide, warning that financial autonomy comes with heightened accountability. He stressed that once funds are paid directly to council treasuries, Nigerians will demand results.
“Financial autonomy must translate into tangible development at the grassroots. Local governments must prioritise primary healthcare, basic education, rural road infrastructure, sanitation, security support, and youth empowerment. The era of excuses, opacity, and mismanagement at the local government level is over,” he said.
He called on oversight institutions, anti-corruption agencies, state assemblies, and civil society groups to intensify monitoring of local government spending to ensure transparency and value for money.
Amamgbo concluded by urging all stakeholders state governments, local councils, and relevant institutions to rally behind President Tinubu’s resolve to strengthen local governance, deepen democratic practice, and deliver real dividends of democracy to Nigerians at the grassroots.
