Sen. Karimi: Senate will Support President Tinubu on recovering ‘trillions’ in stolen LG funds
The National Assembly will support President Bola Tinubu in enforcing a Supreme Court ruling on local government financial autonomy, Senator Sunay Steve Karimi representing Kogi West Senatorial District has said.
Sunday Steve Karimi, chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, told constituents during a yuletide meeting that parliament would pass laws to ensure compliance.
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These would apply retroactively and target governors accused of diverting funds, he added.
The Supreme Court ruled on 25 July 2024 that direct federal allocations to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas (LGAs) must bypass state governors.
It declared governors’ control over these funds unconstitutional and banned caretaker committees for councils.
Mr Karimi said some states were still ignoring the judgement, prompting Mr Tinubu to warn at an All Progressives Congress (APC) meeting two weeks ago that he might issue an executive order against defaulters.
“We will back the President with relevant laws, They will track the kleptomania and squandermania of governors who have been looting the commonwealth,” Mr Karimi said.
He accused some governors of pilfering “trillions of naira” meant for grassroots development.
The senator highlighted how such diversions have left LGAs dysfunctional, contributing to insecurity by creating “ungoverned spaces”.
He cited recent comments by the chief of defence staff during service chiefs’ screening, linking LGA weaknesses to national security gaps.
In some states, Mr Karimi alleged, funds reach LGA accounts but are siphoned through fake vouchers for non-existent projects.
Council chairmen are coerced into approving them under threat, he claimed, describing it as “outright stealing”.
Mr Tinubu’s administration has released more funds to states and LGAs than predecessors, Mr Karimi noted, but many communities see little benefit.
He pledged parliament would hold offenders accountable through prosecution and refunds.
