Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammed Bello, has
suspended all chieftaincy related appointments in traditional
institutions in the territory. This is contained in a circular by FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye, on Sunday.
Ajakaiye added that the suspension was as a result of complaints, petitions and legal tussles among interested parties.
The administration lamented that issues relating to appointment and
installation into traditional positions in the FCT has sometimes led to
situations that were inimical to peaceful coexistence in some of these
communities.
“It had become pertinent to emphasize the provision of the FCT Chiefs
(Appointment and Deposition) Act, 2007, which states that “upon the
death, resignation or deposition of any Chief or Traditional Ruler, of a
kind referred in sub-section (1) of this section.
“The Minister may approve as the successor to such office of a Chief
or Traditional Ruler as the case may be, by any person appointed in that
behalf by the persons charged with the responsibility of appointing
persons to the office or Chief or Traditional Ruler in accordance with
the provisions of any order made by the Minister after consultation with
the Department of Local Government Administration.
“Consequently, all issues of appointments, installation and
turbanning of district, village and ward heads have been suspended until
further notice’’, the FCTA said.