Dada Olusegun, a media aide to President Bola Tinubu, has attributed the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on local government financial autonomy to the efforts of the former Lagos governor. 

Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on Thursday, which mandates that all LGAs receive their monthly allocations directly into their accounts, Mr Olusegun said on X, “The victory at the Supreme Court today did not come out of the blue,” Mr Olusegun said, referencing the landmark judgement that grants local government financial autonomy. 

“It is the result of a conscious effort, part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to decentralising power and empowering grassroots communities.” 

Mr Olusegun added, “Referencing pages 68 and 69 of the Renewed Hope manifesto, which is a pact with Nigerians that will be used to grade this government in four years.”

In May, the attorney general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, initiated legal action to compel state governors to confer full autonomy on local governments. 

On Thursday, Justice Emmanuel Agim, leading a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, issued the historic ruling. 

“Henceforth, no more payment of the local government area allocations to the state government accounts,” Mr Agim declared. 

The judgment resolves a long-standing legal dispute over local government autonomy and ensures that the 774 LGAs will now receive their allocations directly from the federal government.