Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the traditional institution in the state.

El-Rufai said his administration has enacted a law to reform the traditional institution, clarify succession processes for every chiefdom and emirate and insulate the institution from political interference and capricious decisions.

The governor said this during the presentation of the staff of office to the new Esu Chikun of Chikun, His Highness Isyaku Yari, in Kakau, Kaduna State on Wednesday.

Governor El-Rufai, who congratulated Yari on his appointment as the new Esu Chikun of Chikun, urged the monarch to see his appointment as a call to service.

He stated that the Kaduna State Government was addressing the welfare and working conditions of the traditional institution in the state, adding that the government has purchased and distributed official vehicles to all the 32 graded emirates and chiefdoms in the state.

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The governor noted that the state government has also purchased and currently distributing another set of official vehicles to the 88 district heads in the state.

El-Rufai said: “Our traditional institutions are helping our agencies with intelligence at the local level. Across the state, district and village heads are helping to promote better record-keeping and data gathering in our communities on births, deaths, and routine immunisation of children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

“On our part, the Kaduna State Government has taken steps to strengthen the traditional institution. We have enacted a law to reform the traditional institution, clarify succession processes for every chiefdom and emirate and insulate the institution from political interference and capricious decisions.

“The law provides for the posting of well-trained and experienced personnel to staff the various traditional councils. We expect the Reform of Traditional Institutions Law passed in 2021 to assist the traditional institutions to better discharge their roles.

“The Kaduna State Government is addressing the welfare and working conditions of the traditional institution in the state, within its constraints. We have purchased and distributed official vehicles to all the 32 graded emirates and chiefdoms in the state. We have also purchased and are currently distributing another set of official vehicles to the 88 district heads in the state. Many palaces are also being renovated to improve the living conditions of the royal fathers.

“As you are aware, this government has undertaken unprecedented measures to expand infrastructure in the state and to improve the access of ordinary people to education and health care. Our investment drive continues to attract new business to the state. Chikun chiefdom hosts some of the largest new investments in the state.

“The state government is also implementing infrastructure projects within this chiefdom. Early this year, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the road from Millennium City to the Eastern Bypass, one of the longest road projects we constructed in the first phase of our urban renewal programme.

“In addition, the Kaduna Capital Territory Authority (KCTA) is undertaking the following projects within Chikun LGA; Completion of the Romi-Karatudu Road, 2.9km road network around the Sabon Tasha market, Millennium City to Keke Road, Baptist Church Road at Janruwa, Water intake to Sabon Tasha Road, Ungwan Gimbiya Road.

“Also, the Kaduna Markets Development and Management Company (KMDMC) is reconstructing the Sabon Tasha Market in a public-private partnership,” Governor El-Rufai stated.

He, however, urged all our communities to continue to uphold friendly relations and mutual coexistence.

The Star