By Mubarak Mahmood
Bauchi State House of Assembly’s Committee on local government and Chieftaincy Affairs has held a one day public hearing on a bill to establish the Bauchi State Chieftaincy Law and for other related matters
At the hearing, the Chairman of the Committee, Bala Abdullahi Dan noted that the public hearing was designed to gather experts and stakeholders’s input for effective implementation.
Bala Dan described the exercise as a roadmap to development and an opportunity for traditional rulers and stakeholders to contribute their views toward good governance as well as for strengthening traditional institutions.
Declaring the public hearing open, Speaker of the House Abubakar Sulaiman said the purpose of the hearing is to give people the chance to air their views, noting that the creation of new emirates will bring governance closer to rural communities.
He added that the exercise is meant to ensure fairness and justice in response to population growth and the aspirations of the people without any political motive.
In their goodwill messages, the Emir of Katagum Umar Faruk the Second and his Misau counterpart Ahmed Sulaiman lauded the initiative and urged citizens to embrace change for the progress of the state.
Representatives of the Local Government Service Commission, Ministry of Justice, Ministry for local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Nigerian Bar Association of Nigeria and Bauchi Police Command also pledged their support for the success of the exercise.
Various community groups, religious bodies and civil society organizations made submissions, some in support and others raising concerns particularly over the proposed Sayawa Chiefdom in Tafawa Balewa.
The event brought together traditional rulers, stakeholders and citizens from across Bauchi State.