Reps’ Proposal for Statutory Funding of Traditional Councils Explained

It is now appropriate to strengthen the established institutions and increase their efficiency in carrying out their mandate.

Keep in mind that there have been worries about the historic institution becoming politicized, and many believe that many palaces have become political playgrounds.

They claim that contract-seekers and sycophants have taken over the hallways that were once famed for community justice and sound guidance.

One of our informants claims that political survival and patronage have come at the expense of the stool’s dignity.

States like Kano, Adamawa, and Katsina are the places where this unsettling tendency is most noticeable.

We saw the ruthless politicization of the emirate in Kano, when a centuries-old institution was purposefully destroyed in the name of control and retribution.

Traditional unity in Adamawa has been undermined by polarizing politics. Creeping interference poses a threat to the voices of moral fortitude and tradition in Katsina.

Two former ministers, Professors Tunde Adeniran and Taoheed Adedoja, are at odds over a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a formal and stable funding system for traditional institutions.

After the House Committee on Constitution Review, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, adopted a report, the bill is now before the House of Representatives.

In order to provide a specific financing source for traditional councils nationwide, the committee is recommending a change to Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Funds standing to the credit of local government councils in a state “shall be distributed among the local government councils of that state on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of the state,” according to Section 162 of the Constitution, which regulates the Distributable Pool Account.

The committee suggests that a new proviso be included after Subsection (8) of the proposed amendment, requiring state legislatures to pass legislation requiring the direct funding of traditional councils.

In particular, the new clause mandates that a House of Assembly “adopt legislation for the direct payment to the head of the traditional council in that state of not less than five percent of the amount standing to the credit of the local government councils in that state.”

If approved, the amendment would eliminate traditional institutions’ reliance on state and municipal governments’ discretionary subventions by providing them with a constitutionally guaranteed source of revenue for the first time.

In an exclusive interview, former Education Minister Prof. Adeniran warned against the perils of forcing traditional institutions to adopt a standardized national model.

He maintained that, given their unique histories and requirements, subnational governments are in a better position to decide how such organizations should be run.

“The importance of traditional institutions varies from state to state,” he stated. They shouldn’t be subjected to national homogeneity and politicized. States should deal with these matters, and constitutional guarantees protecting conventional institutions shouldn’t make matters worse at the federal level.

The stance of Prof. Adedoja, a former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, who has endorsed the proposed modification, stands in stark contrast to Adeniran’s.

Adedoja praised parliamentarians for bringing about the constitutional reform and urged widespread support, emphasizing the significance of traditional rulers in grassroots governance and dispute resolution.

“In all local governments in Nigeria, traditional institutions are closest to the people at the community level,” he stated. They are essential in keeping peace, resolving family and land issues, and mediating conflicts through culturally appropriate means.

“They can react quickly to these local disputes thanks to budgetary backing, which eases the burden on formal courts that are overburdened with cases. “In local government areas, traditional institutions help maintain peace and order,” he informed our correspondent.

Adedoja asserts that the constitutional support for traditional council funding is justified solely by the maintenance of cultural and social values.

“Traditional rulers are stewards of indigenous culture, history, and moral values,” the speaker stated. Funding is used to assist cultural festivals, local history documentation, and the dissemination of ideals that foster civic identity, harmony, and respect.

“This cultural stability enhances social cohesiveness and supports community development initiatives by local governments.”

The former minister also used community mobilization for security and development as justification for the proposed bill.

He went on to say, “Traditional institutions are good ways to get people involved in development projects like public health campaigns, education enrollment, cleanliness, and local security.

“Budgetary allocations improve their ability to work with local governments to implement policies at the grassroots level, support vigilante and early-warning systems, and engage stakeholders.”

Since Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999, the fight for constitutional funding and recognition of traditional institutions has taken center stage in constitutional discussions.

Under the current Constitution, traditional rulers are not given any official position in the governance structure, despite their impact on grassroots mobilization, cultural preservation, dispute resolution, and community governance.

Despite their continued significance, reformers contend that this exclusion has undermined conventional institutions, especially in rural areas where they frequently serve as the closest authority to the populace. Traditional leaders, according to supporters, are essential allies in addressing security issues, resolving intercommunal conflicts, assisting with public health initiatives, and fostering local development.

Proponents of the proposed amendment argue that constitutional funding will improve conventional institutions’ efficacy, independence, and dignity. They contend that the current funding structure, which is mostly reliant on the cooperation of governors or chairmen of local governments, leaves traditional leaders vulnerable to political pressure and compromises their objectivity.

They contend that a statutory funding structure would boost administrative capacity, provide predictability and transparency, and enhance traditional councils’ power to assist grassroots government. While nominally acknowledging the historical and social relevance of traditional authority inside Nigeria’s federal structure, they nevertheless maintain that distributing a small portion of local government monies will not disturb fiscal balances.

Legislative discussions on the plan are anticipated to center on accountability and the lack of clearly defined constitutional roles for traditional rulers, which are concerns expressed by opponents.