Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has reassured traditional rulers that the government’s plan to establish new emirates, chiefdoms, and districts will not diminish their authority or weaken the traditional institution.
Speaking while receiving the report from the committee overseeing the exercise, Governor Bala explained that the reform aims to strengthen local governance, close ungoverned areas, and enhance community participation and development across the state.
The committee recommended the creation of 13 new emirates, two chiefdoms, and 111 districts in Bauchi State.
According to the governor, the initiative also fulfills a key campaign promise he made in 2019 — to bring government closer to the people, promote local identity, and reinforce the role of traditional rulers in maintaining peace and unity.
Governor Bala acknowledged that some monarchs might have concerns about the reform but emphasized that similar restructuring had been carried out successfully in other Nigerian states and even abroad. He noted that such efforts help provide accurate data for development planning and equitable distribution of federal resources.
“It is in consonance with the established practice in the country, where traditional institutions have been restructured to enhance development and ensure fair distribution of allocations from the federation account,” he said.
He commended the traditional rulers for their critical role in fostering unity and mobilizing communities for progress and assured that the implementation of the committee’s recommendations would be done with fairness and respect for existing structures.
Governor Bala also praised the committee, led by Hamza Koshe Akuyam, for its transparent and thorough work. Earlier, Akuyam revealed that the committee received 196 submissions — including 17 requests for new emirates, 166 for new districts, and several for chiefdoms.
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