By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has issued a direct instruction to state governors to ensure immediate compliance with the Supreme Court ruling on Local Government Area (LGA) financial autonomy.

The directive mandates the direct payment of statutory allocations to LGAs, circumventing state government controls.

Speaking Thursday night at the 14th National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, President Tinubu emphasized that genuine autonomy is contingent upon financial independence.

The president said LG autonomy cannot exist without financial independence, insisting that councils must receive their allocations without interference.

“There is no autonomy without a funded mandate,” Tinubu said.

“We will give them their money directly, that is the truth, that is compliance with the Supreme Court, take leadership seriously.”

He urged governors and party leaders to embrace reconciliation, flexibility and grassroots engagement, noting that leadership must go beyond state capitals to rural communities.

Tinubu also said he had assured the United States and the European Union of Nigeria’s commitment to establishing state police as part of efforts to address insecurity.

“I had a very long discussion with the US and European heads,” Tinubu said.

“I told them confidently that we will pass state police to improve security, I have a party that will make it happen.”

The president commiserated with the government and people of Bayelsa state over the death of the deputy governor and prayed for the repose of his soul.

Tinubu also called for increased female representation within the APC caucus.

Speaking earlier, Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the APC, said the party was witnessing growing national acceptance, citing high-profile defections and recent electoral victories.

Yilwatda said the party’s electronic membership registration exercise would run through January, with January 30 set as the deadline for members to be registered ahead of party congresses.

He said the APC, with the support of Tinubu, has secured land in Abuja’s Central Business District for a new national secretariat, adding that architectural designs were already underway.

The APC chairman said the party now enjoys an overwhelming majority in both chambers of the national assembly, attributing the development to Tinubu’s leadership and recent defections.

Yilwatda listed governors who have joined the APC from opposition parties and said the trend reflects the party’s pan-Nigerian character.

He also briefed caucus members on ongoing constitutional amendment efforts, preparations for the FCT area council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026, and recent victories in by-elections.

In attendance of the national caucus meeting were President Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, vice-president, APC governors, members of the national working committee, leaders of the national assembly, and recently defected governors.