Bamalli: Direct local government funding has stabilised Zazzau Emirate

ZARIA — The Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, has credited direct deductions from local government allocations with improving the financial stability of traditional institutions across the emirate.

Bamalli said the Zazzau Emirate comprises 11 local government areas and dozens of traditional institutions, with monthly contributions from the councils providing much of the funding for salaries, allowances and other expenses.

Speaking at his palace in Zaria, the Emir said the system introduced by the Kaduna State Government had removed the difficulties traditionally associated with obtaining funds from local government councils.

Under the arrangement, he explained, the councils’ contributions are deducted at source and paid directly into the accounts of the respective emirates.

“The monthly contributions that local governments send to the emirates are what we use to pay salaries and allowances and everything,” he said.

“The Commissioner for Local Government saved us from the politics of pursuing a chairman of a local government. They deduct from the source and credit the accounts of the emirates. Since that time, we have stabilised, at least for these three years, with no problem between us and the local governments.”

Bamalli said he hoped the arrangement would remain in place after the current administration leaves office, arguing that traditional institutions should not have to lobby individual council chairmen before receiving funds meant for salaries.

“It’s not personal. But salaries must reach their destination at that point in time. So, we are happy with that,” he said.

The Chairman of the Kaduna State Council of Chiefs also called on traditional rulers to remain neutral in politics and provide equal treatment to everyone who approaches their palaces.

“We are not supposed to be partisan. Whoever comes here, we listen to them, put the same rights and treatment to everybody. We are not supposed to take sides. We see them as our own children,” he said.

Traditional rulers await salary increase

The Emir said the planned increase in the salaries of traditional rulers in Kaduna State would help cushion the impact of economic hardship, although the revised rates had not yet been paid.

He said Governor Uba Sani had told him and the Commissioner that the salary review had been in the works for about seven months.

Bamalli expressed hope that the increase would be captured in the current month’s salary.

“It’s true. Even though we have not gotten any alerts yet, I believe that by the time the salary of the current month comes, we’ll see the increment,” he said.

He added that the salaries and allowances of traditional rulers in Kaduna had fallen behind those of some other emirates, while the declining value of money had further worsened the situation.

Zazzau palace resolves over 2,000 disputes

Turning to peace and security, Bamalli said inclusive governance, community engagement and cooperation with security agencies had contributed to the relative stability in the emirate.

He said his administration had avoided a “winner-takes-all” system by involving members of the four ruling dynasties as well as representatives of different communities.

According to him, the palace has representatives from the four ruling dynasties, while leaders of the Igbo, Yoruba and Fulani communities help maintain communication between the palace and their respective groups.

Bamalli said the approach had fostered trust among the emirate’s different ethnic and religious communities.

He also revealed that the palace had resolved more than 2,000 cases through alternative dispute resolution, ADR, over the past two years.

“Since we changed our strategy of ADR, we have been able to remove over 2,000 cases from the conventional courts and decided them here in the palace. And all the parties left very happy,” he said.

The Emir said the palace handles civil matters, including matrimonial, inheritance and land disputes, while criminal matters are transferred to conventional courts.

He said about five cases are handled daily from Monday to Thursday, adding that the initiative had reduced the burden on conventional courts.

Giwa remains a major concern

Bamalli identified Giwa Local Government as the biggest security concern in the Zazzau Emirate because of its proximity to areas of Niger, Zamfara and Katsina states affected by banditry.

He said the emirate works closely with the state government, police, DSS and military authorities, with intelligence shared promptly with relevant agencies.

“We don’t wait for Monday to come if there is any issue. We quickly escalate it and inform them,” he said.

Recalling previous attacks, Bamalli cited an incident involving the district head of Fatika, who narrowly escaped after armed men reportedly killed about 16 people in the area.

He, however, said the security situation had improved considerably across the emirate following better coordination and interventions by security agencies.

The Emir said his experience in diplomacy, conflict resolution and management had shaped his leadership style.

He urged traditional rulers to prioritise fairness, dialogue and inclusiveness, stressing that the institution could preserve its cultural responsibilities while adapting to the realities of modern society.

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