The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has restated his commitment to strengthening the traditional institutions across the country, noting the roles royal fathers play in ensuring peace and unity in Nigeria.
Speaker Abbas, who described the 10th House as a dependable ally of the traditional system, said he would continue to lead in the recognition and empowerment of traditional rulers.
The Speaker stated this in Abuja on Thursday while presenting vehicles to four monarchs, namely: Royal Highness, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, CFR; Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Haruna Yunusa Muhammad Danyaya; Esu Karu, Pharm. Luka Panya Baba, and Kur Jibu Bali, Alhaji Abubakar Mahmoud.
The Speaker had recently distributed vehicles to traditional rulers in the North-West, in Kaduna, and kings in the South-West, South-South and South-East in Lagos.
At the ceremony on Thursday were the Chairman, House Committee on Traditional Institutions, Hon Abdulmumin Ari Mohammed, and a former Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Babangida Nguroje, as well as representatives of SMEDAN.
Addressing the monarchs, the Speaker noted that the empowerment of traditional rulers did not start recently, noting that the Sultan of Sokoto, Ooni of Ife, Emir of Zazzau, Emir of Gwandu, Obi of Onitsha and two others in Katsina State had benefited from his empowerment programme.
Speaker Abbas said it was a day of pleasure “not only for me as the Speaker of the 10th Assembly but for the entire members of the House, who have and are still holding the traditional institutions of Nigeria in high esteem.”
He added that the 10th House has in its Legislative Agenda “prioritised the issue of creating constitutional roles for the traditional institutions,” stressing that it informed the creation of a Committee on Traditional Institutions “for the first time in the history of the parliament.”
The Speaker said: “As you are all aware, I am also part of you. I come from the same system. I understand and appreciate, over the years, the progressive decline in support given to traditional institutions in Nigeria. That is the reason I said ‘charity begins at home.’ Before I go begging others to support the traditional institutions, let me initiate something from my side so that others will see it and emulate. That is what informed me in the first year of my speakership to knock on the doors of some prominent emirs and chiefs in the country.”
While describing members of the House as “dependable allies” of the traditional rulers, the Speaker said the presentation was “a symbolic gift” to motivate the monarchs in ensuring peace and stability in their communities.
He added that the same provision has been made in the 2025 budget, making it possible for the royal fathers, who have not benefited from the empowerment, to have their turn.
“It is a legacy we want to leave for the next Assembly,” Speaker Abbas said, adding that “Every year, a provision will be made for vehicles and other things to support our traditional rulers.”
The Speaker thanked the traditional rulers for “being fathers to all of us,” saying the House “is and will continue to be your allies.”
Giving the vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Etsu Nupe said the traditional rulers were “short of words to express our profound gratitude” to the Speaker.
He said the traditional system had observed Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and his concerns for the traditional system since he became Speaker of the House.
The Etsu pointed out that all that the traditional institutions are doing is to support the administration of any government at the federal, state, and local levels. He noted that traditional institutions have always been there, recalling the defunct “native authorities.”
The traditional ruler said the gesture from the Speaker would go a long way to enhance their ability and capability to do more. He added that it would aid their mobility from place to place within their domains and around the country.
Signed:
Musa Abdullahi Krishi
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
