President Bola Tinubu has warned that his administration would directly release local government funds if state governors fail to comply with the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy.
The president issued the warning on Friday while addressing the 15th National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, stressing that the apex court’s rulings must be obeyed.
“The Supreme Court has carved it for you; it says give them their money directly. So, if you wait for my executive order because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it,” Tinubu said.
He added that deductions could be made at source through FAAC if governors delay implementation, noting, “Before FAAC, we will do the arithmetic… Otherwise… you will see a deduction from the source.”
On security, Tinubu directed the National Assembly to summon the Inspector-General of Police over plans for state police, adding, “We are going for state police. We will do the Forest Rangers, we will arm them. We will defeat those terrorists and bandits. We must.”
He also urged fairness in APC e-membership registration, while party leaders pledged unity and support for the administration’s reforms.