Sultan Lacks Constitutional Power To Make Appointment – Sokoto Govt

Amid insinuations of bickerings over alleged plans to strip the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, of certain privileges, the Sokoto State government says the Sultan of Sokoto has no constitutional power to make any appointment 

The State Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Nasiru Binji, said at the public hearing on the Sokoto Local Government and Chieftaincy Law 2008, on Tuesday that the existing Chieftaincy law in the state runs contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended.

According to Binji, section 76(2) of the law is inconsistent with section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Explaining the State government’s position further, the Commissioner said; “Section 5(2) of the constitution stipulates that the executive power to appoint in the state is vested on the Governor directly or through his deputy, commissioners or any government agent assigned by the Governor.

“So, there is no power given to the sultanate council to appoint. Section 76(2) of the Sokoto Local government and Chieftancy Law give the sultanate council the power to appoint district and village heads in the state but with the approval of the sitting Governor.

“So the section is inconsistent with the 1999 constitution as amended and therefore it cannot stand. Because the power to appoint is the executive power and who exercise the power, is it not the Governor?

“This is the reason for the amendment. To correct the mistake of the past”.

Also speaking on the bill to extend the tenure of local government chairmen to three years, the Justice Commissioner explained that the development is to meant to engineer effective performance among them

Forefront News recalls the Sokoto State House of Assembly recently passed the Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill through the first and second readings.

When passed into law, the amendment bill will strip the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, of powers to appoint the kingmakers and to appoint district heads without government approval, among other things.

This is as the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) raised concerns about an alleged plan by the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, to depose the Sultan of Sokoto.

The MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Isiaq Akintola, had raised alarm over the potential move, which came amid controversy and tension following the deposition of several monarchs in Kano State.