NGF and Traditional Rulers Seek Legislation for Constitutional Role

Date: 2024-10-31

The Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) and the National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria (NCTRN) on Wednesday urged the federal government to introduce legislation that formally establishes a constitutional role for traditional rulers across the country.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State made the appeal during a briefing with journalists after a joint meeting between the NGF and the NCTRN, which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Governor Abiodun described the meeting, led by NGF Chairman Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak of Kwara, as a landmark gathering aimed at strengthening collaboration between government and traditional institutions to enhance governance and community engagement.

“The agenda of the day, amongst others, was the issue of constitutional role for our traditional rulers,” he said.

The governor said a bill was currently before the National Assembly seeking a constitutional role for traditional rulers.

“After we had a few inputs by our traditional rulers, the Etsu Nupe graciously gave us a summary of what the proposed bill looked like, and we agreed on the proposed bill, as presented,” said Mr Abiodun.

He said the meeting also agreed that a joint committee of governors and traditional rulers should be set up to ensure that the remarks at the meeting be included in the bill to have a robust document.

He said the final bill would be an inclusive document that would seek to empower traditional rulers more, and involve them in governance, peace, security of states across the country.

Mr Abiodun also said the meeting deliberated on peace and security, food security, and all other emerging threats.

“The participation of our traditional rulers was also underscored, since they are the closest to the grassroots.

“And fortunately, we are blessed with many of them who are vastly experienced, knowledgeable; we have retired soldiers whose contributions cannot be overestimated.

“We also discussed the issues of state policing and gender based violence. We spoke about the impact, or otherwise, of local government autonomy on traditional rulers.

“The idea was to inform them of what the Supreme Court ruling means, so that they have a better understanding of the impact of that ruling when implementation starts,” he said.

On his part, Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, commended the NGF for supporting a constitutional role for traditional rulers.

He affirmed that the meeting deliberated on solving issues, especially the constitutional role for traditional rulers in governance.

“I presented a brief on the bill being sent to the National Assembly, because, as you are all aware, presently, there's a committee in the National Assembly charged with the responsibility of reviewing the 1999 Constitution.

“So, we already submitted a bill to that committee with a view to amending the constitution appropriately by identifying those areas we mentioned,” he said.

He stated that the structure, function and funding of traditional institutions were spelt out in the bill.

“There's nothing that can happen without proper funding. So, we believe strongly that if the institutions are well funded, we will perform very well.

“Our institution now is blessed with professionals, with retired military officers, technocrats and any field you can think about,” said the Etsu Nupe.

He explained that a committee had already been set up, comprising 15 members under the chairmanship of Gov. Hope Uzodima of Imo.

“The committee will address these issues and then bring back a report to the forum so that necessary actions can be taken,” he said.

(NAN)

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

TESCOM     Ubandawaki     AbdulHamid Adi     AbdulRahman Saad     Salihu Yahaya     Ben Duntoye     High Court     Oba Abdulrahim     Moronfoye     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Government High School Adeta     Igosun     Mohammed Haruna     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Lawal Arinola Kudirat     Bamidele Aluko     PharmAccess Foundation     Kolade Solagberu     Sulaiman Gado     Bilikisu Gambari     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Raliat Elelu-Habeeb     Kwara University Of Education     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     All Peoples Party     Muhammed Danjuma     Lai Mohammed     Kuliyan Geri     Kpotum Mohammed Baba     Emmanuel Bello     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Yusuf Badmus     Dan-Kazeem     Kumbi Titiloye     Alao Ayotunde     Theophilus Oyebiyi     AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro     Anilelerin     Abubakar Olusola Saraki     Balikis Jawondo     Olayinka Olaogun     Baaziki Sulaiman     Asa LGEA School     Saliu Tunde Bello     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Kabir Shagaya     Abdulkadir Jimoh     Funmilayo Oniwa     Yusuf Amuda Gobir     Ayekale     Old Oyo     Oloye     Jani Ibrahim     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Hausa     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     Balogun Ajikobi     Emir Of Yashikira     Gabriel Fashanu     Lithium     Ilorin Like-Minds     Peter Amogbonjaye     Abdulfatai Ahmed     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Musa Alhassan Buge     MINILS     Afolayan     Gbemi Saraki     Tanke Road     Talaka Parapo     Saliu Mustapha     Abdulazeez Arowona     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Moro     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Cassava Growers\' Association     Bola Sagaya    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Abdulfatai Baakini     Magaji Nda     Adegoke Bamidele     Alore     Sebastine Obasi     Shero     Ibrahim Abikan     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     Lanre Jimoh     Mumeen Lah     Isau     Ajuloopin     Congress For National Consensus     Egbejila     John Mayokun Dada     Saheed Alakoso     Olaitan Buraimoh     Tunji Oyawoye     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     Barakat Community Secondary School     Kwara Restoration Project     Funmilayo Braithwaite     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Jebba     Taibat Ayinke Ahmed     Yakub Ali-Agan     Sulyman Buhari     Ado Bayero     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Oyun     Iyeru Grammar School     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Toyosi Thomas     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Segun Ogunsola     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Dogara     Sabi     Olabimpe Olani     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Presidential Election     Funmilayo Mohammed     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Bashiru Makama     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Nigeria Customs Service     Segun Abifarin     Tricycle Owners Association Of Nigeria     Olam Food Ingredients     Lanre Badmus     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Aisha Ahman-Pategi     Oluranti Idowu     Isiaka Danmeromu     Saliu Mustapha     Eleja Taiwo Banu     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Isaac Gbenle     AbdulGafar Tosho     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Nurudeen Mohammed     Olota Of Odo-Owa     Sunday Otokiti     National Information Technology Development Agency     Yusuf Abdulkadir     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     UTME     Osi     Yakub Lai Gobir     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Nigeria Computer Society     Boko Haram     Mamatu Abdullahi     07039448763