THE BENUE State House of Assembly has urged Gov. Hyacinth Alia to approve an upward review of the salaries and allowances of traditional rulers and ensure that none earn below the N75,000 minimum wage.
The resolution followed a motion titled “Motion to Improve the Welfare of Traditional Rulers in Benue State in Line with the Prevailing Minimum Wage”, sponsored by Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South), Mr Peter Uche (APC/Guma 1) and Mrs Beckie Orpin (APC/Gboko East) on Wednesday in Makurdi.
Leading the debate, Akya described traditional rulers as indispensable partners in governance and stressed that they serve as custodians of the people’s cultural heritage, promoters of peace, and mediators in communal conflicts.
The lawmaker further described traditional rulers as mobilisers for government programmes and key stakeholders in maintaining security and social harmony across Benue communities.
He argued that despite the increasing responsibilities placed on traditional rulers, their salaries and allowances had remained grossly inadequate amid rising inflation and the high cost of living.
According to him, the situation diminishes their capacity to effectively discharge their constitutional and traditional responsibilities.
Akya recalled that the Benue Government had already implemented a N75,000 minimum wage for workers in the state and maintained that traditional rulers also deserve a remuneration structure that reflects their status and invaluable contributions to peace, security and socio-economic development.
He further observed that many traditional rulers currently lack official vehicles, while their remuneration was yet to be adjusted in line with the new minimum wage.
Seconding the motion, Mr Peter Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala) called for a comprehensive review of the Benue State Chieftaincy Law, describing the existing law as outdated and in need of amendment to reflect present-day realities.
He also advocated the provision of official vehicles to traditional rulers to enhance their mobility and improve the discharge of their responsibilities.
Ruling after the debate, Speaker Mr Alfred Emberga directed the Clerk of the House, Dr Bem Mela, to transmit the resolutions of the assembly to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Ministry of Finance for appropriate action.
Emberga said that the proposed salary review should guarantee that no traditional ruler in the state earned below N75,000 per month, while preserving a graded remuneration structure based on the category and status of each traditional institution.
The speaker also urged the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Benue State Traditional Council, to develop an equitable and sustainable salary framework for traditional rulers across the state.
He called on the state government to institutionalise periodic reviews of traditional rulers’ salaries and allowances in line with future adjustments to the national and state minimum wage to safeguard their welfare and uphold the dignity of the traditional institution.
Emberga further recommended that the state government procure and allocate official vehicles to traditional rulers, beginning with kindred heads to strengthen grassroots leadership and improve their operational effectiveness. (NAN)
