The Senate will help in providing constitutional powers to the country’s traditional rulers, Sen. Ita Enang, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, assured on Friday in Abuja.
Enang gave the assurance when he played host to traditional rulers from Akwa Ibom, who were attending the national conference of traditional rulers in Abuja.
He said the Senate’s Constitution Review Committee (CRC) would ensure that the role of traditional rulers was given constitutional backing.
“At the Senate Constitution Review Committee, we have decided that the issue of the authority and powers of the traditional rulers will be elevated and put in the constitution.
“What we are doing on this in the constitution is to elevate it beyond the position of being a normal law to that of being a constitutional provision.
“If we do not give a constitutional backing to it, then it will still be taken that the job of traditional rulers is limited to what is provided for them by the House of Assembly of their respective states,’’ Enang said.
He hinted that the CRC would soon call for the submission of memoranda on the role of the traditional institution and other areas that required constitutional amendments.
“In the next two weeks, you will see advertisements by the CRC of the Senate, calling for memoranda on this subject.
“This will enable you to submit your position paper on what your role should be, vis-a-vis the role of local governments, state governments and the role of other strata of administration, ‘’ Enang said.
The Rules and Business Committee chairman also announced that the Senate would soon consider a proposed bill to further provide traditional rulers with specific areas of constitutional authority.
‘’I want to also inform you that Sen. Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa state has proposed a bill to give traditional rulers in the country specific roles,’’ he said.
The Senator commended the Akwa Ibom monarchs for the co-operation they were giving to the state government.
Edidem Ime Inyang, Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, praised the lawmakers for their plan to give the traditional rulers specific roles in the polity.
The paramount ruler of Ibiono Ibom expressed joy over the development and pledged the loyalty of the traditional rulers to the three tiers of government.