The Legal Defence & Assistance Project (LEDAP), a civil society organisation, and the Yobe State Government, on Friday, urged the National Assembly to recognise and create constitutional roles for traditional rulers.
Aside from the constitutional recognition, they called for the integration of traditional rulers into state and local security councils, land administration reform, and funding.
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They also sought autonomy of traditional councils, inclusion of youths and women in traditional governance, and multi-stakeholder partnerships, including development partners, civil society, and government institutions.
They made the calls in a press statement signed by both the national coordinator, LEDAP, Chino Obiagwu, and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Yobe State, Sale Samanja.
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The calls followed a workshop organised by the LEDAP, Yobe State Ministry of Justice, with support of the MacArthur Foundation, held on 17 September in Yobe State.
The workshop was organised for traditional rulers, legislators, and stakeholders in Yobe State, amid ongoing process for the review of the Nigerian constitution by the National Assembly.
They proposed the review of existing laws in Yobe State and challenged other states to follow suit.
“The Yobe State House of Assembly should review and reform laws on local government and chieftaincy affairs to empower Emirate Councils to manage conflicts, land administration, and community governance without undue political interference.
“Other state houses of assembly should carry out similar law reviews to accord their traditional institution suitable roles in governance,” the statement said.
LEDAP and the Yobe government emphasised the importance of traditional rulers as “custodians of culture, heritage, and values,” and are able to serve as “agents of social change” in their communities for development purposes.
They also noted the value of traditional councils as gatekeepers of communities, providing security intelligence, guidance, and humanitarian support. They argued that they can serve as mediators of conflicts, yet their “roles remain informal.”
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A constitutional recognition of traditional rulers would be effective in tackling challenges suffered by communities, they argued.
Nigeria’s constitution is currently undergoing an amendment. In July, the Senate Committee on Constitution Review (CRC) assured Nigerians that the current amendment of the Constitution would be concluded and transmitted to state Houses of Assembly before the end of 2025.
However, there have been several calls from different states and groups clamouring for constitutional reviews such as the creation of additional states, for judges to sign death warrants instead of governors and for state police.
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