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, insisting 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), and Beckie Orpin (APC/Gboko East) during plenary on Wednesday in Makurdi.
Presenting the motion, Akya described traditional rulers as indispensable partners in governance, noting that they serve as custodians of cultural heritage, promoters of peace, mediators in communal disputes, mobilisers for government programmes, and key stakeholders in maintaining security and social harmony across communities.
He lamented that despite the growing responsibilities of traditional rulers, their salaries and allowances have remained inadequate in the face of rising inflation and the increasing cost of living, thereby affecting their ability to effectively perform their constitutional and traditional duties.
Akya recalled that the Benue State Government had implemented the N75,000 minimum wage for workers and argued that traditional rulers also deserved a remuneration package that reflected their status and contributions to peace, security, and socio-economic development.
He further noted that many traditional rulers lack official vehicles, while their remuneration has 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called for a comprehensive review of the Benue State Chieftaincy Law, describing the existing legislation as outdated and in need of amendment to reflect current realities.
He also advocated the provision of official vehicles to traditional rulers to improve their mobility and enhance the performance of their responsibilities.
In his ruling, 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.
The Assembly resolved that the proposed salary review should ensure that no traditional ruler earns below N75,000 per month while maintaining a graded remuneration structure based on the category and status of each traditional institution.
Lawmakers 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 an equitable and sustainable salary framework for traditional rulers across the state.
The House 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.
It also recommended the procurement and allocation of official vehicles to traditional rulers, beginning with kindred heads, to strengthen grassroots leadership and improve their operational effectiveness.
