The governor of Bauchi promises to establish additional emirates for the kings.

Traditional leaders’ concerns about the government’s proposal to establish new emirates, chiefdoms, and districts in Bauchi State have been allayed by Governor Bala Mohammed.

Governor Bala stated that the action is not intended to harm the traditional institution or diminish the authority of any current traditional ruler when accepting a report from the committee overseeing the exercise.

The change, he clarified, is a component of his government’s endeavour to enhance local administration, enclose ungoverned areas, and promote community development and involvement throughout the state.

In Bauchi State, the committee suggested establishing 111 districts, two chiefdoms, and 13 new emirates.

The governor claims that the plan will also carry out the pledges he made during his 2019 campaign, which included increasing the roles of traditional rulers in preserving peace and unity, encouraging local identity, and bringing government closer to the people.

Although Governor Bala admitted that some monarchs could be uncomfortable with the reform, he pointed out that comparable adjustments have been made in other Nigerian states and even abroad. He clarified that these reforms contribute to more equitable resource allocation from the federation account and reliable data for development planning.

He went on to say, “It is consistent with the country’s established practice in states where the traditional institutions have been unbundled and provided data and statistics for development, as well as distribution of take away from the federation account in terms of number of emirates, districts, and villages.”

He went on to say that traditional leaders are essential in encouraging social peace and organising communities for development initiatives.

In addition to providing new chances for leadership and representation, Governor Bala promised that the proposals would be applied equitably and with regard to the institutions that now exist.

He noted the calibre of the committee’s research and methodology and commended it for its open and comprehensive work.

Earlier, Hamza Koshe Akuyam, the chairman of the committee, stated that they had received 196 submissions, of which 17 asked for new chiefdoms, 166 for new districts, and 17 for new emirates.