Breaking: Sokoto Govt makes huge announcement on Sultan

The Sokoto State Government has set the record straight, stating that the Sultan of Sokoto does not possess the constitutional authority to make appointments, clarifying any misconceptions about his role.

The clarification was made during a public hearing on Tuesday, which focused on the Sokoto Local Government and Chieftaincy Law of 2008.

Barrister Nasiru Binji, the Commissioner of Justice, observed that the current Chieftaincy law in the state conflicts with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. He specifically noted that Section 76(2) of the law clashes with Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“Section 5(2) of the constitution stipulates that the executive power to appoint in the state is vested in the Governor, either directly or through his deputy, commissioners, or any government agent assigned by the Governor. Therefore, there is no power given to the sultanate council to appoint,” Binji stated.

The Commissioner of Justice highlighted the need to amend the law, as the current provision granting the sultanate council the power to appoint district and village heads, subject to the Governor’s approval, is at odds with the Constitution, which reserves the appointment power for the Governor alone.

The bill also recommends increasing the tenure of local government chairmen to three years, allowing them to effectively carry out their duties and implement meaningful changes.