By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed has observed that the state government has reached a critical stage in the ongoing realignment of traditional institutions, which is the appointment of appointment of village heads across the 20 emirates in the state,
He said that the exercise which followed the expansion of the institutions structures, having the state operating on the principle of inclusivity, and the believe in stakeholder engagement, consensus-building, and ensuring that decisions, especially those with far-reaching consequences are taken collectively.
The Governor in a remark at the stakeholders’ engagement on traditional institution realignment held Tuesday at Government House, Bauchi, said that by understanding the exercise, government is carrying along majority of the people, while preventing avoidable mistakes.
He recalled that fourteen additional emirates have been created with their emirs appointed who were now firmly in their palaces, as
efforts are also ongoing to properly constitute the Emirate Councils, with proposals currently under careful consideration to ensure accuracy and inclusivity.
Governor Bala explained that government is fully determined not to make avoidable mistakes in the process to enable the new emirates have fully functional councils aligned with the provisions of the law, saying the appointment of village heads remains critical in grassroots leadership, particularly in Northern states such as Bauchi
The Governor said however that in carrying out the exercise, government will adopt a bottom-up approach in respect of issues of inheritance and tradition, as many of these individuals have been groomed over time.
Mohammed added, “However, in areas affected by population growth and demographic expansion, we will also consider competent and widely accepted community leaders, in consultation with the Royal Highnesses and local communities”.
Governor said it is to ensure transparency and fairness that he directed the emirates to submit their proposals for review by the Local Government Service Commission under the supervision of the Secretary to the State Government.
According to him, consultations will be held with no fewer than ten stakeholders in each local government area, representing diverse interests, not necessarily political, so as to arrive at a broad-based consensus.
Describing the exercise as delicate where opinions were expressed and concerns raised, the governor stated that Bauchi has developed strong democratic values and practices, deliberately exercising restraint by ceding aspects of his authority to the people who brought them into office.
“While discretion is important, excessive use of it can lead to problems. That is why we have engaged extensively with traditional rulers, stakeholders, and community representatives since morning, reviewing proposals to ensure that no leader is imposed on a community against its will”.
“We must also be mindful of the prevailing security challenges. We cannot afford to appoint individuals who may compromise the safety of our people. Therefore, thorough scrutiny is essential to ensure that only credible and responsible individuals emerge as village heads”.
He noted with delight that elected Local Government Chairmen have played key roles in the process, and I commended them for their commitment. They are exercising delegated responsibilities on behalf of the government, and their contributions are highly appreciated.
Mohammed urged all political leaders and stakeholders to remain non-partisan in the exercise, so that the this process will not be driven by personal or sectional interests, but to make it sustainable, just, and credible to reflects fairness and stands the test of time.
The Governor assured that the submissions will be carefully reviewed by the relevant institutions, including the Local Government Service Commission and Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and where necessary, be reverted to the Royal Highnesses on contentious issues to ensure proper resolution.
Mohammed emphasized the need for respect, loyalty and discipline as fundamental, such that every village head must be loyal to district head and report accordingly, likewise, district heads must demonstrate absolute loyalty to their emirate councils, with no one acting outside the established traditional hierarchy or claim undue authority based on how they emerged.
He appreciate the efforts of the committees and stakeholders who contributed to the process, saying however with rapid population growth in the state, the exercise seems dynamic that will continue to evolve, with future administrations to build on the foundation with a view to further strengthen traditional leadership and bring governance closer to the people.
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