The Benue State House of Assembly has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to approve an upward review of the salaries and allowances of traditional rulers, urging that no traditional ruler in the state should earn below the N75,000 minimum wage.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion titled “Motion to Improve the Welfare of Traditional Rulers in Benue State in Line with the Prevailing Minimum Wage,” sponsored by Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South), Peter Uche (APC/Guma I), and Beckie Orpin (APC/Gboko East) during Wednesday’s plenary in Makurdi.
Presenting the motion, Akya described traditional rulers as indispensable partners in governance, noting that they play vital roles as custodians of cultural heritage, promoters of peace, mediators in communal disputes, and mobilisers of government programmes. He added that they remain key stakeholders in maintaining security and social harmony across communities in Benue State.
The lawmaker argued that despite the growing responsibilities placed on traditional rulers, their salaries and allowances have remained inadequate in the face of rising inflation and the increasing cost of living. According to him, the poor remuneration undermines their ability to effectively carry out both their constitutional and traditional responsibilities.
Akya recalled that the Benue State Government had already implemented the N75,000 minimum wage for civil servants and maintained that traditional rulers also deserve a remuneration structure that reflects their status and significant contributions to peace, security, and socio-economic development.
He further noted that many traditional rulers lack official vehicles, while their salaries have yet to be adjusted to align with the new minimum wage.
Seconding the motion, Peter Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala) called for a comprehensive review of the Benue State Chieftaincy Law, describing the existing legislation as outdated and in need of amendment to reflect current realities.
Ipusu also advocated the provision of official vehicles to traditional rulers to improve their mobility and enhance the performance of their duties.
Following deliberations, Speaker Alfred Emberga directed the Clerk of the House, Dr. Bem Mela, to transmit the Assembly’s resolutions to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Ministry of Finance for necessary action.
Emberga said the proposed salary review should ensure that no traditional ruler in Benue earns less than N75,000 per month while maintaining a graded remuneration structure based on the category and status of each traditional institution.
He 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 a fair and sustainable salary framework for traditional rulers across the state.
The Speaker further 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, saying this would safeguard their welfare and preserve the dignity of the traditional institution.
He also recommended that the government procure and allocate official vehicles to traditional rulers, beginning with kindred heads, to strengthen grassroots leadership and improve their operational effectiveness.
Source:NAN
