Amidst the challenges bedeviling the traditional institution in the country, the House of Representatives and other stakeholders have joined their voices in calling for defined constitutional roles for the royal fathers.
The traditional rulers, whose roles at the moment are largely ceremonial, remain deeply embedded in the cultural and social fabric of the Nigerian society.
Before the advent of colonial rule, traditional rulers were the primary authority figures who governed various ethnic groups and regions, maintaining law and order, administering justice, and overseeing economic activities.
Traditional rulers preside over cultural festivals, religious ceremonies, and other community events, preserving the cultural heritage of their people.
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They play a crucial role in mediating disputes within their communities, using traditional methods to resolve conflicts and maintain peace.
Indeed, the advent of modern governance structures has significantly reduced the powers of traditional rulers in the country.
Push for constitutional roles gathers momentum
Notwithstanding the important position traditional rulers occupy as custodians of cultural heritage and traditions, they have no defined roles in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (As Amended).
This has given room to calls on the need for traditional rulers to be given constitutional roles in the ongoing amendment of the constitution by the National Assembly.
At the recent ‘2024 Open Week’ organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja, traditional rulers, leadership and members of the House of Representatives as well as other stakeholders such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and civil society organisations, made case for constitutional roles for the traditional rulers.
The two-day ‘Open Week’ celebration which held between July 3rd and 4th, was to mark the first anniversary of the 10th Assembly and 25 years of unbroken democracy in the country.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over a panel session to discuss the issues around the traditional institution in the country, called for the alteration of the 1999 constitution, to create a role for traditional rulers, given their closeness to the people at the grassroots.
Abbas, while informing the gathering of the commitment of the 10th assembly to grant constitutional roles to the traditional rulers said the House constituted two special Standing Committees to drive the process of actualising constitutional autonomy for local governments, as well as granting recognition to the traditional institution in Nigeria.
“Because most of us in the House honestly believe that the traditional institution is the backbone of our society, we believe that the welfare of our people will be more enhanced with a legal role for the traditional institutions.
“We also believe the security of our country will be more enhanced if the traditional rulers are given better roles. That’s the reason from the onset we decided to create two different committees. One of them is the Committee on Traditional Institutions to drive the process of giving legal recognition to the traditional institutions in this coming constitutional amendment. The second one is the Committee on States and Local Governments.
“These two committees, we believe, will drive the process of reaching out to critical stakeholders in the states to ensure that the goal of local government autonomy is realised.”
In his contribution as a panellist, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar, noted that during the colonial era, the traditional institution was already established, which was why the colonialists went through the institution to administer the people.
Etsu Nupe, who went down memory lane to reminisce the important roles played by the traditional institution, during the pre-colonial and colonial era, called for constitutional recognition for traditional rulers in the country.
“Where you have a gathering of people, you need a formidable institution or authority to administer them.
“This natural institution, known as traditional institution came into being by recognising the need of people around a community and the need to administer them well.
“When these people gather, they have culture, values and mode of life and obey the common rules of peace, unity and progress.
“We have gone through all the obstacles before the coming of colonialism. We had this institution operating very well, knowing our values, and promoting our interest before the coming of the British.
“That is why, even when the Oyinbos (British) came, to colonise Nigeria, they found the institution already established and already working in harmony.
“They didn’t touch the institution; they believed strongly in it, because it helped them administratively, in achieving their goals.
“The colonial masters didn’t come to administer Nigerians; no, they came for economic and other social advantages.
“When they found that these institutions were already in existence, they made good use of it. For instance, in my own domain, in those days, before a D/O (District Officer) who was a Whiteman; before he could go to any village, he would approach the emir and say, Your Highness, we want to build hospital or school in such and such area.
“We are urging this Assembly to use the ongoing constitution review exercise to re-establish the roles of the traditional institution in the country so that we can assist governments at all levels to monitor and maintain security and peace in our various domains,” the Etsu Nupe said.
Other traditional rulers, who spoke at the session, said to end insecurity bedeviling the country, there was a need for funding of the institution through what they called security votes.
On his part, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), urged the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to revisit all legal and legislative encumbrances hindering the realisation of the full potentials of traditional institution in the country.
“There is nothing wrong in creating constitutional role for the traditional institution. It is time we did something concerning the legislative framework upon which the traditional institution in this country operates.
“They are important; we should give them that recognition and the only way to do it is by making laws that will accord them that premium; that will accord them that importance because who we are as a nation is a function of our laws”, he said.
The NBA boss argued that for such roles to be effective and sustainable, the constitution must also take care of the issue of job security for the traditional rulers, whom he said are currently at the mercy of politicians.
Other contributors argued that the Land Use Act has greatly weakened the importance of the traditional institution.
A member of the House of Representatives, Bayo Balogun advocated that not less than 10 per cent of ground rent should be set aside for the traditional institution in the country.
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