New law makes Emir of Kano head of ‘council of chiefs’

Kano State House of Assembly has passed a law making the Emir of Kano chairman of the “council of chiefs” and ending the issue of rotating the position.

The Emirate Councils Amendment Bill 2020 was adopted during plenary on Tuesday.

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In 2019, the House approved the creation of four additional Emirate Councils, bringing the number of First Class Emirs in the state to five: Gaya; Karaye, Rano, Bichi and the existing Kano Emirate Council.

Majority Leader of the House, Kabiru Dashi, said, “In the new law, the number of kingmakers has also increased from four to five members, to allow for free and fair election of a new emir whenever there is vacancy.

“We have four kingmakers in each of the Emirate Councils, in the case of death or removal, we are trying to avoid a situation where two will support and two will reject.

“By increasing the number to five; it must be free and fair while electing an emir. And also, the new law will provide a three day deadline for the election of a new emir,” he said.

Dashi added that the amended law had also changed the title of the Council of Chiefs, to be refer as the Council of Emirs.

The lawmakers after considering the amendment at the Committee of the Whole, adopted the amendment to the bill.

The House also approved the appointment of Dr Garba Shehu, as the Executive Secretary, Kano State Education Development Support Fund. (NAN)