Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has signed the controversial Local Government and Chieftaincy Amendment Bill, along with five other bills, into law.
The newly enacted law removes the power of the Sultan of Sokoto to appoint district and village heads in the state,
The other bills signed into law are – Sokoto State Tenancy Law, Zakkat and Waqf Law, Discrimination Against People Living with Disability Law and Rural Roads Law.
The Governor, at the signing ceremony, on Thursday, said the changes were intended to enhance governance, not to target any individual or group.
His words: “We note with concern the unnecessary tension created by our proposal to amend some of these laws. Some of the reactions were politically motivated, while others were done ignorantly without care to inquire from the right quarters on the details and intention of the amendment,” Aliyu stated.
The governor asserted that legislative amendments are a common practice aimed at meeting the evolving needs of society and ensuring laws are aligned with current circumstances and the interests of the governed.
“Previous administrations had amended one law or the other in the state to give the state laws the needed touch that would fast-track peace and development.
“Let me make it clear that the just amended laws are not meant to witch-hunt any individual or group but rather to promote good governance and to remove the ambiguity and inconsistency with the nation’s constitution,” Aliyu explained.
He further cautioned Muslim clerics against being used by “lazy politicians” to achieve political ends and assured that his administration remains committed to listening to the needs of the citizenss.
“Whenever we come across any law that does not suit the interests of our people, we will not hesitate to replace it,” he added.
