The Etsu Kwali, His Royal Highness (HRH) Alhaji Shaban Audu Nizazo (III), has said that there is the need for the FCT Administration (FCTA) to always involve graded chiefs when appointing or selecting district heads in the territory.
Alhaji Shaban made the observation during an interview with our reporter at his palace over the weekend, saying the graded chiefs should be given the chance to advice and process the appointment of district heads before the FCTA gave approval.
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He said the appointment of district heads in the FCT was not the same as in the Northern states, noting that district heads were part of traditional councils or were traditional rulers in the North.
He said in the case of the FCT, the appointment of district heads was based on advice given by security agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently the FCTA.
He further said, “We found out that the graded chiefs have less or nothing to do with the appointment of district heads in the FCT.”
“If you find a graded chief being involved in the appointment of a district head, it is because maybe an area council chairman has a cordial relationship with such chief.”
He noted that graded chiefs had had misunderstandings in such direction; where they complained that they were not always involved in the process of selecting or appointing district heads.
He added that the turbaning of district heads should be the sole responsibility of graded chiefs.
He noted that, “I can remember that the first generation of district heads we had were turbaned in the area council secretariats; which was not normal.”
He further noted that area council chairmen had always said district heads were appointees of the government.
It would be recalled that late last month, the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, appointed four district heads.