Taraba state House of Assembly, on Thursday, passed the Establishment of One Rotational 1st Class Chief and Three (3) 3rd Class Chiefs Bill, 2024.
Hon. Abel Peter Diah, chairman of Taraba state House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs, disclosed that after exhaustive debate on the bill, the house found it as a solution to permanent peace in Takum, since it will demonstrate brotherhood between the Jukums, Chamber and the Kuteb people.
“You may wish to recall that, this Honourable House during its sitting on Monday 19th February, 2024 received an Executive communication on the Establishment of One Rotational 1st Class Chief and Three (3) 3rd Class Chiefs Bill, 2024. The House went further and considered the general Principles of the Bill. After an exhaustive debate, the Bill was referred to the Committee on Local Government, Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs for further Legislative actions.
“The Honourable Chairman and Honourable Members of the Committee swung into action by placing advertisements on NTA, TTV, and TSBS, inviting members of the public, interest groups, and stakeholders to submit written memoranda to the Committee on the Bill and to appear before it on Wednesday 21st February 2024 for a public hearing which was held as scheduled.
“I am pleased to inform this Honourable House that the response of stakeholders to our call for memoranda and invitation to the public hearing was highly commendable. For the avoidance of doubt, the following organizations attended the public hearing to make oral and written submissions. They include, Taraba State Council of Chiefs, Ministry of Justice, Bureau for Local Governments & Chieftaincy Affairs, Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria, Tiv Cultural and Social Association Taraba State, Jukun Takum, TEKAN/ECWA, N.C.W.S Taraba State, Chamba Takum, Kuteb Youths of Nigeria, Ukwe Takum Royal Palace, Jibu Ruling House under Jukun Takum and Jalingo Development Foundation.
“In their submissions during the public hearing, the Taraba State Council of Chiefs, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the Jukun Takum, Chamba Takum, Ministry of Justice all expressed their total support for the Bill. They stressed that, it will put to rest the lingering chieftaincy tussle in Takum. On the other hand, the Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria, Ukwe Takum Royal Palace, Kuteb Youths of Nigeria, and NCWS Taraba State, vehemently opposed the Bill as they view the Bill as an attempt to deprive the Kuteb race of their inheritance, as they consider the Ukwe stool as their exclusive preserve.
“In the course of the public hearing, the following observations were made: (1). That the word “Kuru” be removed from the title of the proposed Bill and the entire Short Title and the Long Titles of the proposed Bill be redrafted. (2). That, the definition Sections are not elaborate enough, other definitions be included to make it elaborate. (3). The word “Selector” should be replaced with “Kingmakers” (4). That, there is no Section created for the appointment of the Chief of Takum, therefore a Section be created to accommodate the appointment of the Chief of Takum and subsequently the Section be renumbered appropriately. (5). That Section 5 of the Principal Bill did not state the number of days to notify the Bureau, in case of vacancy in the seat of Chief of Takum. (6). That there is no Section creating Takum Traditional Council. (7). That Principal Bill did not take cognizance of the event of the death or permanent incapacitation of the Chief of Takum and who should act in the interim.
“The Committee, after a careful observation hereby makes the following recommendations: (1a) the Short Title of the Bill should be as follows, Taraba State establishment of One Rotational First Class Chief and Three 3rd Class Chiefs Bill, 2024. (1b) The Long Title of the Bill should be as follows, A Bill for Law to provide for the establishment of One Rotational First Class Chief and Three (3) 3rd Class Chiefs in Takum among the tribes of Kuteb, Chamba, and Jukun Takum respectively and for other matters connected therewith.
(2) The committee concurs with the observation two above and includes other definitions in the proposed Bill as follows:- “Bureau” means the Bureau for Local Government, Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State. “Chairman” means the chairman of Takum Local Government. “Chairman Kingmakers” means one person selected from among the kingmakers in Section 4 of this Bill. “Governor” means the Governor of Taraba State. “Kingmakers” means those people mentioned in Section 4 of this Bill. “President in Council” means the first class Chief of Takum. “Takum Traditional Council” means the traditional council created under Section 10 of this Bill.”Chamba Takum” means persons of Dinyi and Tikari descent of Takum town. “Jukun Takum” means persons of Kpanten and Jibu of Takum town. “Kuteb Takum” means persons of Likam and Akenten descent of Takum town. “Traditional Kingmakers” means Kingmakers created under Section 5 of this Law 3. That the word “Selectors” should be replaced with the word “Kingmakers” in the proposed Bill. 4.
The committee concurs with observation 4 above and redrafted a new Section 5(1) and 5(2) as follows. Section 5(1), The appointment of the Chief of Takum shall be among the three (3) Third 3rd Class Chiefs and shall be on rotational basis provided that no any 3rd Class Chief shall be appointed twice if any of the other 3rd class chiefs has not been so appointed to the office of the Chief of Takum Section5(2). Where the Governor approves the nomination of any 3rd Class Chief to be appointed as the Chief of Takum, the ruling family from which such a nominee was drawn, shall nominate a replacement within three (3) days. 5. The committee agreed with observation 5 above and redrafted Sections 5(1), 5(2), 5(3), 5(4), 5(5), and 5(6) in the proposed Principal Bill to be renumbered as Section 6(1), 6(2), 6(3), 6(4), 6(5) and 6(6) respectively” The committee chairman expressed.
Hon. Diah while thanking the committee members for their diligence during the assignment, promised the committee’s readiness to serve the house any time they are called to.
