Lawmakers passes bill to strip power from Sultan of Sokoto

Sokoto State Assembly has successfully completed the first and second readings of the Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill.

The amendment bill, if passed into law, will strip the Sultan of powers to appoint the kingmakers and will also strip the sultan of powers to appoint district heads without government approval, among other things.

Recall that the State Government had earlier gave green light to amend section 76 of the local government and chieftaincy law to align with prevailing practices within the state.

Under the current law, the authority to appoint district and village heads lies with the Sultanate Council.

However, in practice, the Sultanate Council merely provides recommendations to the state government, with the governor ultimately making the appointments.

Nasir Binji, the state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice, clarified that the proposed amendment aimed to synchronise the legal framework with the customary procedure in Sokoto State.

Addressing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting, Binji explained that under the proposed amendment, the Sultanate Council would retain the power to recommend candidates, while the authority to appoint would be vested in the governor.

This move comes in the wake of recent dismissal of certain traditional rulers in the state due to their alleged involvement in land-related issues and security concerns.