Sokoto Assembly Holds Hearing On Bill Seeking To Amend Emirate Council Law

Members of the civil society organizations, top government officials and other stakeholders attended the public hearing held at the Sokoto state House of Assembly  complex , Sokoto on Tuesday.

 The  public hearing  was held on the  Emirate Council Amendment Bill, which is seeking to take away the power of the Sultanate Council to appoint village and district heads in the state.

The state Commissioner for Justice, Nasir Binji submitted that the law  that has been tabled for amendment is inconsistent with the nation’s constitution wherein it was stated that  the power in question only lies with the three arms of government: the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary,  and not the institutions.

He added  that the power to ‘appoint’ is solely vested in the executive arm of government.

Nasir  however clarified that the Sultanate council still retains the power to recommend village and district heads for appointments which will require the governor’s approval.

He added  that the proposed amendment is non-political and not a way of   stripping the Sultanate Council of its power, adding that other sections of the law to be amended include extension of the tenure of elected Local Government chairmen from two years to three years.

Nasir also noted that in section 76 subsection h of the law,  the phrase granting the governor ‘absolute’ power to appoint caretaker committee chairmen for the local governments would be removed, as the word is ambiguous.

He submitted that section 76(2) of the law is inconsistent with section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

‘Section 5(2) of the constitution stipulates that the executive power to appoint in the state is vested in the governor directly or through his deputy, commissioners, or any government agent assigned by the governor. So, there is no power given to the Sultanate Council to appoint. Section 76(2) of the Sokoto Local Government and Chieftaincy Law gives the Sultanate Council the power to appoint district and village heads in the state but with the approval of the sitting governor.

So, the section is inconsistent with the 1999 constitution as amended and therefore it cannot stand. Because the power to appoint is the executive power and who exercises the power, is it not the governor? This is the reason for the amendment. To correct the mistake of the past’ he said.

In his contribution, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Religious Affairs, Ibrahim Adare submitted that seeking the amendment of the law is a good step in the right direction.

He said, ‘If the law is amended, the village and district heads will get their allowances as at when due and the ministry is in support of the amendment being sought’.

Chairperson of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in the state, Bello Gwadabawa also said  the amendment is for good governance and the organization is in support of it.

The representative of the Sultanate Council , Dr. Muhammad  Kilgori however noted  that even before now, the council  had always consulted the government before appointing or making any decisions concerning any village or district head.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the Sokoto DNA, a non-governmental organization,  also objected to  the amendment of sections 75 and 76, which  would strip the Sultanate Council of the power to appoint village or district heads.

The leader of the group , who is a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Balarabe Kakale argued that the amendment being sought would whittle down the power of the Sultanate Council.

He said, ‘I want to enjoin the House of Assembly to tread cautiously in amending the law. Now that the Federal Government is trying to assign more roles to traditional rulers for good governance, my state is trying to reduce the power of traditional rulers in the democratic process.

This is the first  time in the history of Nigeria that a president would appoint a special adviser on traditional rulers, the National Assembly has also constituted a standing committee on traditional rulers’.

Kakale also added that the organization has proposed the presentation of a bill that will make the teaching of history of the Sokoto Caliphate mandatory at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels in the state-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you