The Forum for Promotion of Good Governance, (FPGG), has submitted a Memorandum to the Constitution Amendment Committee of the National Assembly, advocating for the inclusion of Constitutional roles for traditional rulers in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Memorandum, titled: ‘A Memorandum submitted to the Constitutional Amendment Committee of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the need to provide Constitutional roles for traditional rulers in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)‘, dated May 25, 2024, underscored the need to formally recognise the traditional institutions critical and historical roles in governance and community development.
The FPGG, a non-governmental body, highlighted the pivotal role that traditional rulers play in community leadership, emphasising that “traditional rulers are the custodians of culture and traditions, serving as a vital link between the people and the government. Their influence is rooted in their historical roles as administrative leaders, conflict managers, and spiritual guides”.
The Memorandum emphasised that “traditional rulers have historically played significant roles in dispute resolution, legislation, and mobilisation, often commanding more respect and compliance from the populace than formal Government structures”.
Despite their importance, the memorandum pointed out that the current Constitution fails to provide a clear role for traditional rulers, reducing them to mere ceremonial figures. The FPGG argued that this exclusion is a missed opportunity to leverage the traditional institution’s close ties to the people for better governance and social stability.
The Memorandum traced the historical contributions of traditional institutions in various regions of Nigeria, noting their involvement in governance, spiritual leadership and community mobilisation. It also outlines the challenges faced by traditional rulers, including lack of formal recognition, inadequate funding, and undue political interference, which undermine their effectiveness and authority.
The FPGG’s recommendations for Constitutional amendments include: Security – Granting traditional rulers a role in civil intelligence-gathering and community security; Agriculture – Involving traditional rulers in agricultural development to enhance food security; Culture and Tourism – Empowering them to harness cultural and tourism resources for economic development.
The other recommendations are: Environmental Sanitation – Assigning them responsibility for overseeing local environmental health; Town Planning – Enabling them to enforce adherence to town planning regulations; Extractive Industry – Involving them in the management of local extractive industries to reduce conflict and promote development.
The FPGG also called for better funding for traditional institutions, with direct financial allocations from Government revenues and a share of locally generated income. It advocates for the depoliticisation of the appointment and removal processes for traditional rulers, emphasizing that these should align with local customs and traditions to preserve the institution’s integrity.
Additionally, the FPGG suggested the building the capacity of traditional rulers through training and development programmes in order to enhance their governance roles.
The FPGG concluded with a plea to the National Assembly to recognise the critical role of traditional institutions in Nigerian society and to incorporate them into the constitutional framework. This, the FPGG believes, will not only strengthen governance but also foster greater social cohesion and development at the grassroots level.
