Plateau First Class Traditional Rulers to Get 13 Domestic Staff Each

All first Class Traditional Rulers in Plateau State are now entitled to thirteen (13) domestic staff.

Lightbearernews report that this was part of the recommendation submitted to the Plateau State House of Assembly by the Tripartite Committee on Land, Survey and Town Planning, Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Agriculture and Natural Resources on a Bill for a Law to provide for the renumeration of appointed Traditional Rulers in Plateau State and for other related matters, 2022.

The report which has since passed third reading, was read by the Chairman House Committee on Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Ibrahim Baba Hassan, and recommended that the domestic staff shall includes 5 Palace Guards, 2 stable boys, 2 cooks, 1 Personal Assistant and 3 drivers for all the first Class Chiefs and Emirs.

The Committee also recommended 9 domestic staff for second class and 6 for third class Chiefs and Emirs. While District Heads shall be entitled to 4 and 2 for Village Heads.

Appointment of the domestic staff for the traditional rulers according to the Committee shall be tenured and their remuneration shall be drawn from 5% allocation to the traditional council.

“All Secretariat and Financial staff shall be posted from the Local Government to the traditional council. Each Chiefdom is autonomous and therefore, no graded traditional ruler shall interfer with the affairs of another Chiefdom”

The Committee also recommended restrictions on the use of Siren/Flags for the traditional rulers, where it says First Class Traditional Rulers are to use Siren and Flag, Second and Third Class should use flag only, while all other traditional rulers are to use Vehicle Plate numbers provided by the Local Government or the traditional council.

Parts of the recommendation said as soon as a traditional ruler passes on, and immediately after his burial, selection process for his successor must be initiated immediately. However, they said in case of any litigation, a person as chosen by the king makers may be appointed to oversee the affairs of the council and such a person must not belong to the ruling house or houses and shall draw only allowances payable to the traditional ruler.

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“Provision of death benefits to the family of deceased traditional ruler shall be 50% of their annual basic salary to cushion the effect of the loss of their beloved bread winner”

Acting appointment of traditional rulers the Committee said shall be approved by the Executive Governor of the State or his designated representative upon recommendation from the traditional council and shall be for a period of 3 months only, except where there is litigation in court.