Lagos Traditional Rulers Demand 5% of Federal Allocation, Upward Review of Their Salaries

Traditional rulers from Lagos State have demanded that 5% of the Federal Allocation be allocated to royal fathers in the state. They also called for an upward review of their salaries to match current realities.

These demands were made at a recent 3-day retreat for traditional rulers in Lagos State, themed “Traditional Rulers: Anchor in Times of Societal Crisis.” Among the resolutions passed at the retreat are:

• 5% of the Federal Allocation should be allocated to Traditional Rulers in the State.
• The salaries of Traditional Rulers in the State should be reviewed upward to be commensurate with current realities.
• The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be amended to include permanent roles for Traditional Rulers in national governance.
• The Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State, 2015, should be updated to reflect current realities.
• Expectations of the Traditional Rulers from the National Assembly should be clearly articulated and forwarded to the Lagos State House of Assembly for input before being submitted to the Federal Government for consideration.
• A law should be enacted by the State Government to empower Traditional Rulers to address land grabbing issues within their domains, with support from the State Government.
• New Traditional Rulers should be mentored by older Obas on culture and tradition to maintain the dignity of the throne.
• An Oba from each of the five divisions in the State should be a member of the Land Grabbers Committee.
• The appointment of Iya-Loja should be the sole responsibility of the Traditional Ruler within their domain, rather than the Local Government/LCDAs Chairmen and Market Board. Relevant laws should be amended accordingly.
• The State Government should introduce a yearly free medical check-up policy for Traditional Rulers.
• The State Government should provide a free health insurance scheme for Traditional Rulers.
• A proposal for the reconstruction of the Ministry’s Conference Room (T-Block), used for Council of Obas and Chiefs meetings, should be forwarded to the Governor for consideration.
• The State Government should provide security personnel for Traditional Rulers.
• The five divisions of the State (I.B.I.L.E) should remain unchanged in the Senatorial Zones.
• ll land allocated to the Federal Government and its agencies (e.g., Military, Police) should be allocated with the consent of the concerned community.In an interview with EKOHOTBLOG, a traditional ruler, who wished to remain anonymous, gave insight into the reasons behind the recent demands made by Lagos State traditional rulers.

  He emphasised the critical role that monarchs play in the daily lives of people at the grassroots level, which necessitates adequate resources and support from the government.

  On the demand for 5 per cent of the federal allocation, the monarch said, “The traditional rulers are the closest to the people at the grassroots. We are the first point of contact for the needs and concerns of our communities. To effectively carry out our duties, we need financial resources that reflect our responsibilities. 

  “Allocating 5% of the Federal Allocation to traditional rulers in Lagos State would empower us to address the immediate needs of our people, from conflict resolution to community development projects.”

  “On the call for an upward review of salaries: Our current salaries do not reflect the realities of the times. The cost of living has increased significantly, and our roles have expanded. As custodians of culture and tradition, we are expected to provide for our people, maintain our palaces, and uphold the dignity of our offices. An upward review of our salaries would enable us to meet these expectations and continue serving our communities effectively.”

  “Traditional rulers have been the anchors of stability and continuity in our society for centuries. We believe that our roles should be recognized and enshrined in the Constitution. This would not only solidify our position in national governance but also ensure that our contributions to peace, security, and development are formally acknowledged.”