President Bola Tinubu has cautioned state governors that he may issue an Executive Order to enforce local government financial autonomy if they fail to comply with a Supreme Court ruling.

Speaking on Friday at the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Tinubu addressed the persistent issue of governors withholding statutory allocations meant for local councils.

“The Supreme Court has capped it for you again, saying, ‘give them their money directly.’ If you wait for my Executive Order, because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it,” he warned NEC members, which included governors and senior party officials.

He added, “I’m just being very respectful and understanding with my governors. Otherwise, if you don’t start to implement it, fact after fact, you will see.”

The warning follows the landmark July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment, which upheld the Federal Government’s suit enforcing financial autonomy for local governments. The court unanimously ruled that it is unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds intended for local councils, mandating direct payment from the Federation Account—a practice often bypassed through joint accounts by some states.

Reiterating the need for compliance, Tinubu stressed that continued violations could trigger federal intervention. “The ultimate goal is our Supreme Court. We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” he said.