By Daniel Edu
The Senate leadership had a significant meeting on Monday with the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, who paid a courtesy visit to the National Assembly in Abuja.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, along with other principal officers of the Senate, welcomed the royal delegation, led by the Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness Yahaya Abubakar, representing the Sultan of Sokoto, His Royal Highness Sa’ad Abubakar.
During the meeting, Abubakar conveyed the congratulations of the traditional rulers to Akpabio on his emergence as the President of the Senate. Additionally, the monarchs used the opportunity to request the Senate’s recognition of the essential roles played by traditional rulers in nation-building through legislation.
Abubakar highlighted that despite their crucial role in stabilizing society and maintaining national unity, the 1999 Constitution did not assign specific roles to traditional rulers. He mentioned that previous attempts to rectify this situation, including one during the 9th National Assembly, did not succeed in obtaining the required votes in the Senate, although it was successful in the House of Representatives.
In response, Akpabio assured the traditional rulers that their request for constitutional roles in governance would be considered during the next Constitution amendment process. He emphasized that traditional rulers had historically played vital roles, especially in ensuring the security of lives and property.
Akpabio, drawing from his personal background, mentioned that his late grandfather was a traditional ruler and had been instrumental in the effective implementation of indirect rule during the colonial era. He believed that engaging traditional rulers constitutionally at the grassroots level could significantly contribute to addressing the security challenges faced by the country.
The meeting provided an opportunity for fruitful discussions on the involvement of traditional rulers in governance, and both parties acknowledged the importance of collaborating for the betterment of the nation.
[Attached are some photos from the meeting.]
