— Says There’s No Autonomy Without Funded Mandate
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, yesterday, told the 36 governors to hand over local government allocations to the councils in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment.
The President said there would be no autonomy for councils without a funded mandate.
Speaking at the 14th APC National Caucus meeting at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the President said he had assured the United States and the European Union that Nigeria would establish state police to tackle insecurity challenges.
He also advised governors and party leaders to be flexible in their actions and ensure they get involved in what happens in their various states, including rural communities.
He said: “You must yield and continue to promote tolerance and flexibility. Get involved in whatever is happening in your various states, up to the local government level.
“I had a very long discussion with the US and European heads. I was bragging to tell them that definitely we will pass state police to improve security. They asked me if I’m confident, and I said yes, I have a party to depend on. I have a party that will make it happen.
“And if at this level we fail, God forbid, we will not fail. I think reconciliation, accommodation and flexibility are in your hands, all of you, and we are the majority. We are the leaders.
“Let us equally look at the recent Supreme Court judgment. What can we do with it? And how well can we position our country and our party.
“To me, local government autonomy is and must be effective. There is no autonomy without a funded mandate. We will give them their money directly. That’s the truth. That’s compliance with the Supreme Court. Take leadership seriously.”
The President commiserated with the government of Bayelsa State on the death of the deputy governor and prayed that his soul rest in peace.
He also called for the inclusion of more women in the caucus and asked that provisions should be made toward that.
Speaking earlier, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, hailed what he described as a surge in the party’s national acceptance, citing recent high-profile defections, an electronic membership registration drive and plans for a new national secretariat in Abuja.
He said it was his first such gathering since emerging chairman in July.
Yilwatda thanked President Tinubu for his support and urged stakeholders to rally behind the party’s expansion agenda ahead of planned congresses and the next national convention slated for March 2026.
He told caucus members that the APC leadership was consolidating structures nationwide through a membership drive, while also crediting the President’s leadership with strengthening party cohesion and public confidence.
He listed a number of governors and political actors he said had recently joined the party, while also claiming that the APC now enjoys an “overwhelming majority” in both chambers of the National Assembly.
Yilwatda said: “Recent political developments underscore APC’s pan-Nigerian character, including significant defections that have further expanded our influence, particularly several high-profile individuals and groups who have defected to our party, especially from opposition parties.”
Yilwatda also announced what he described as an internal organisational milestone: the activation of an electronic membership registration system, which he said would improve transparency, data integrity and internal democracy.
The APC National Caucus is a high-level strategic meeting of the party’s top leadership.
It typically brings together the President, Vice President, national chairman, members of the National Working Committee, APC governors and other key stakeholders to align on political and organisational issues ahead of broader deliberations at the NEC.
Notably, the six governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who recently defected to the APC were present at the caucus meeting, including Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno and Taraba Governor Agbu Kefas.
Both the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, spoke on the importance of working together and giving every member equal opportunity.
Akpabio noted that governors are leaders of the party in their states and should be accorded due respect.
A timely new publication, Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria, co-authored by Olumide Babalola and Uchenna Nnawuchi, 📘Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria is now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8TmFZrd
_______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers: A Comprehensive Guide”, authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
