A Bill for Upward Review of Traditional Rulers Salary Scale Second Reading at PLHA

A Bill seeking to provide a framework for an upward review of the remuneration of appointed traditional rulers in Plateau State has scaled second reading at the Plateau State House of Assembly.

The bill titled “A bill for a law to provide for the remuneration of appointed traditional rulers in Plateau State and for other related matters, 2025” sponsored by Hon. Nanbol Listick, member representing Langtang North Central said is one of the Bills of relevance in accordance with Order 13, Rule 16 of the Standing Orders of Plateau State House of Assembly, 2021.

Some key aspects of the bill include: Category of Traditional Rulers, Appointment of Traditional Rulers, Salaries of Traditional Ruler, Sources of Salaries and Allowances, Allowances and Stipends, Alteration of Salaries and Appointment and Traditional Rulers on Acting capacity.

Others are, Effect of Court Proceedings on Remuneration, Exclusion from remuneration, allowance and other stipends, Refund of Payment, Demise of a Traditional Ruler/Payment of death benefit, Use of Sirens and Flags, Domestic Staff, Tenure and Posting and Administration of Chiefdoms.

Hon. Nanbol enumerated the roles of Traditional Institutions in the society which includes, cultural preservation, peace building, dispute resolutions, local governance, community development, social cohesion and advice.

Others are, Communication Bridge, maintaining law and order, and mobilizing citizens for civic duties.

According to the bill, the traditional rulers to be considered include First Class Chiefs, Second Class Chiefs, Third Class Chiefs, Senior District Heads, Senior Village Heads, Village Heads, Heads of Hamlets (Red Cap Chiefs); Kings and Queens of Districts, Villages and Hamlets.

Other members in their separate contributions, acknowledged that the traditional rulers are passing through some kind of economic crisis due to the dwindling economy of the nation.

According to them the bill is timely and need speedy action, noting that the traditional council play a key rule in the security architecture of the society through peace building and reconciliation among others.

They also urged the House principal officers to find time and visit the governor when the bill is passed to explain to him its importance and the need for him to assent to it for the good of the state.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel put the bill into voice vote and it was unanimously passed through the second reading as read by the Clark of the house.

The speaker thereafter committed the bill to the Committee on Chieftaincy Affairs for deliberation, urging the committee to do a thorough work on the bill because the bill is going to be a unifying force.

The bill was approved for third reading on 30th October.

It will be recalled that a similar bill was passed by the 9th Assembly sometimes in January, 2023 but was not assented to by the Governor in the last administration.