Segun Showunmi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on the Federal Government to take firm action against state governors resisting the implementation of local government (LG) financial autonomy, as declared by the Supreme Court.

 

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Showunmi expressed frustration that the landmark ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim on July 11, 2024—which mandates full financial independence for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils—is not being effectively enforced.

 

He accused state governors of deliberately stalling the process and described them as “clowns” undermining democratic development at the grassroots.

 

“I’m not happy with the Federal Government of President Bola Tinubu,” Showunmi said. “They went all the way to the Supreme Court to secure autonomy for local governments, yet they’re allowing some clowns calling themselves governors to toy with the implementation.”

 

He argued that the government must exert pressure to compel compliance, stressing that true local government autonomy would trigger widespread job creation and development.

 

“If you just bullied them into implementing that LG thing, do you know how many jobs would be generated? Local governments would be empowered, and there’s a way to do it,” he said.

 

Recalling past practices, Showunmi referenced the era of General Ibrahim Babangida, when local governments collected funds directly from the Federal Ministry of Finance, bypassing state interference.

 

“In those days, LGs didn’t receive funds through states. They picked up their cheques directly from the Federal Ministry of Finance in the state. States collected theirs separately,” he noted.

 

The former presidential campaign spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar also criticized the prevailing political culture, stating that many officeholders act with impunity due to a lack of accountability.

 

Despite his criticism, Showunmi commended the Tinubu administration for its “systematic thinking” in addressing national challenges and acknowledged what he described as commendable progress over the past two years.