{"id":120806,"date":"2025-07-19T22:05:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T21:05:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=120806"},"modified":"2025-07-19T22:05:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T21:05:22","slug":"south-east-traditional-rulers-seek-constitutional-roles-to-address-insecurity-strengthen-national-unity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/south-east-traditional-rulers-seek-constitutional-roles-to-address-insecurity-strengthen-national-unity\/","title":{"rendered":"South-East Traditional Rulers Seek Constitutional Roles to Address Insecurity, Strengthen National Unity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Tracy Moses<\/div>\n
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Traditional rulers of Nigeria\u2019s South-East extraction have urged the federal government to grant them constitutional recognition, arguing that this would significantly enhance efforts to combat insecurity and promote national unity and development.<\/div>\n
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Their appeal came during the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on the 1999 Constitution Review for Imo and Abia States, held Saturday in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.<\/div>\n
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Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze C. Okeke, said that traditional leaders had undertaken extensive consultations before submitting their formal position to the House of Representatives Committee on the Constitution Review.<\/div>\n
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He proposed a constitutional amendment that would formally create a National Council of Chiefs with clearly defined responsibilities within Nigeria\u2019s governance structure.<\/div>\n
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According to Eze Okeke, \u201cWe recommend that each geopolitical zone nominate three monarchs to be part of a restructured Council of Chiefs. At the national level, there should be a National Council of Traditional Rulers chaired by the President and comprising state traditional council chairmen and two additional representatives from each state and the FCT.\u201d<\/div>\n
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He said the council would offer guidance on cultural, religious, and traditional matters, foster peace and social cohesion, help resolve communal conflicts, and rally grassroots support for government initiatives.<\/div>\n
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In a separate development, the South-East chapter of Organised Labour voiced strong opposition to a proposal to shift labour matters from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.<\/div>\n
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Representing the labour groups, Comrade Uche Chikemedu argued that such a change would violate Nigeria\u2019s obligations to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and destabilize the country\u2019s labour regulatory framework.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe firmly reject this amendment. Labour belongs on the Exclusive List to maintain uniformity and reflect our international commitments,\u201d Chikemedu asserted.<\/div>\n
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He recalled that Nigeria ratified ILO Conventions 89 and 98 shortly after gaining independence in 1960, thereby affirming federal control over labour issues. He warned that transferring authority to the states, non-sovereign entities, could lead to jurisdictional chaos and weaken national labour protections.<\/div>\n
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Chikemedu further pointed to the National Industrial Court\u2019s exclusive jurisdiction over labour disputes as a clear reason why labour matters should remain under federal purview. He also cautioned that allowing states to set individual minimum wages would erode the national social safety net.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe national minimum wage is protected under ILO Convention 026, which Nigeria ratified in 1961. Letting each state decide its own wage undermines this international standard,\u201d he warned.<\/div>\n
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Meanwhile, women\u2019s organizations across the South-East geo-political zone strongly supported a proposed constitutional amendment that would create additional legislative seats specifically reserved for women.<\/div>\n
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Hon. Dr. Blessing Nwabala, who spoke on behalf of the groups, said the measure is essential not just for gender balance, but for the growth and resilience of Nigerian democracy.<\/div>\n
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\u201cDemocracy cannot flourish when half of the population is shut out. Supporting this bill means answering the demands of Nigerian women and aligning with global best practices,\u201d she noted.<\/div>\n
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Nwabala stated that the bill seeks to establish 182 new seats exclusively for women across the national and state legislatures. \u201cThese seats symbolize more than just numbers, they stand for equity, empowerment, and a shared future,\u201d she said.<\/div>\n
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She added that from rural communities to urban centers, women across the region have expressed their desire for representation and inclusion in governance.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019re not asking for favors, we\u2019re demanding fairness, recognition, and the right to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria\u2019s development,\u201d she declared.<\/div>\n
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