A newly established committee comprising state governors and traditional rulers has been given four weeks to formulate recommendations for a bill to create a National Council of Traditional Rulers (NCTR).
Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, made the disclosure while briefing State House Correspondents after the maiden dialogue between the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the traditional rulers at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
He explained that the initiative is a reflection of the growing recognition of the vital role traditional leaders could play in enhancing security at the grassroots level.
The 15-member committee, chaired by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, will work to harmonise various recommendations that clarify the responsibilities of traditional rulers in community safety.
According to Abiodun, during the meeting which was at the instance of the NGF, participants emphasised the necessity for effective community policing and improved intelligence sharing between local authorities and traditional institutions.
He highlighted the importance of incorporating feedback from both governors and traditional rulers to ensure that the forthcoming document reflects the aspirations of the communities they represent.
He explained: “We agreed that a joint committee of governors and our traditional rulers should be set up, and that committee should seek to ensure that the various remarks and comments that were made from those that are here present, which reflect the desires ofthose that they represent should be included to make for a robust document;
“All that should be synthesised so that whatever document will be presented to the National Assembly will be a very comprehensive, inclusive document that seeks to empower our royal majesties and highnesses more and to involve them in governance, peace and security of our various states across the country, including the FCT,” Abiodun stated.
When asked about the timeline for this initiative, Abiodun confirmed that the committee has been given four to six weeks to complete its assignment and submit their findings before the next scheduled meeting.
Abiodun said: “Based on the terms of reference, they’ve been given the next four to six weeks to complete the assignment and submit it before the next meeting.”
Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, on his part expressed his appreciation for the Forum’s invitation to the National Council of Traditional Rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto and co-chaired by the Ooni of Ife.
He said the joint meeting marks a significant step towards collaboration between governors and traditional institutions.
Etsu Nupe highlighted discussions focused on defining the constitutional roles of traditional rulers in governance. He said he presented a memo regarding a bill submitted to the National Assembly, aimed at amending the 1999 Constitution to clarify the structure and functions of traditional institutions, including tenure security and insulation from partisan politics.
The proposed legislation seeks to empower the leaders with constitutional responsibilities to tackle issues such as insecurity, peace-building, and inter-community disputes.
THE SUN NEWSPAPER
