By Aliyu Mohammed, Minna
The National Traditional Council of Traditional Rulers has lamented the exclusion of traditional rulers from governance in the 1999 Constitution saying this limits their roles in national development.
The Chairman of Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, made the lamentation on behalf of the National Traditional Council during the Zone A Constitutional Review in Minna, Niger state.
The Etsu Nupe said, traditional rulers have a lot to offer for the nation hence the need for the restoration of constitutional roles for traditional institutions.
“Traditional Rulers play a vital role in national cohesion by maintaining peace, unity, and cultural heritage. Therefore, the council called for the review for the role of traditional rulers from exclusion to inclusion in the Constitution.”
Stakeholders from the northern and southern part of Niger state, presented a memorandum, advocating for the creation of new states, Kainji State from Northern part Niger and Edu State that was proposed to be curved out from Southern part of Niger and Kebbi states.
Earlier, in his remark, the Chairman of Zone A Constitution Review Committee, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims, assured the public that his committee would discharge its responsibility with fairness to all submissions saying, public hearing would not only deepen legislative engagement but also promotes citizens participation in governance.
He added that a great number of Nigerians were of the view that constitutional amendments was necessary if all grey areas that hindered national development is to be corrected and that he urged stakeholders to use the period in presenting their views that would aid in improving governance.
