By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Sunday Steve Karimi, has disclosed that the National Assembly is preparing to enact new laws to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in recovering trillions of naira in local government funds allegedly diverted by some state governors. Senator Karimi, who chairs the Senate Committee on Services, made the disclosure while hosting his constituents during the yuletide break in Kogi State. He said the proposed legislation would compel strict compliance with the Supreme Court judgment on local government fiscal autonomy.
According to the lawmaker, the planned laws are aimed at enforcing the landmark Supreme Court ruling of July 25, 2024, which ordered the direct disbursement of federal allocations to the 774 local government councils across the country without interference from state governments.
Quoting from the apex court’s decision, Karimi noted that the judgment declared state governors’ control over local government resources unconstitutional and nullified the use of caretaker committees, insisting that only democratically elected councils are legally recognised. He explained that the ruling was designed to strengthen grassroots democracy and improve service delivery by ensuring that funds meant for local governments reach elected officials directly, rather than being controlled at the state level.
However, the senator lamented that despite the clarity of the judgment, some state governments have continued to disregard and violate the ruling, thereby undermining local governance and development.Karimi recalled that President Tinubu had warned erring governors during a recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he might issue an Executive Order to enforce compliance if disobedience persists.
He added that although the President has so far exercised restraint, the National Assembly is determined to intervene legislatively to address what he described as persistent non-compliance by some governors. “We will back the President with relevant laws that will be effective and far-reaching,” Karimi said. “These laws will track the looting of local government resources and ensure accountability for governors who have misappropriated funds meant for the grassroots.”
The senator alleged that trillions of naira meant for development at the local level have been diverted over the years, depriving communities of basic services and infrastructure.“ There is a general consensus that no administration in recent history has released as much funding to states and local governments as the Tinubu administration,” he said. “Yet, in many places, the people are not feeling the impact.”
Karimi linked the dysfunction of local governments to rising insecurity, citing recent remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff during the screening of service chiefs, where he noted that weak local governance has created ungoverned spaces exploited by criminal groups. He accused some governors, their political allies, and associates of routinely diverting local government allocations, describing the practice as a major factor behind the collapse of grassroots administration.
According to him, the National Assembly will prioritise legislation to enforce compliance with local government autonomy, warning that those found culpable would be compelled to return misappropriated funds and face appropriate sanctions.
