Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar says that if he wins Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, his administration will release local government funds directly to the accounts of the country’s 774 local councils. He frames the pledge as immediate implementation, beginning from day one of his presidency.
Both outlets link his promise to a recent Supreme Court ruling that grants greater financial autonomy to local governments. The ruling is widely interpreted as allowing funds meant for local councils under the Federation Account to be paid directly rather than through state-controlled channels. In his remarks, Atiku presents the approach as a step toward “true federalism” by strengthening local government financial control.
While the coverage focuses on the same policy intent, the wording differs: one report emphasizes the “direct” release of funds “from day one,” and the other stresses the mechanism—payment into council accounts—alongside the broader objective of complying with the Supreme Court decision.
