Oyo Assembly passes chieftaincy amendment bill

The Oyo State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, passed a bill to amend the Chiefs Law, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

This passage came after the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Local Government and State Honors, The Punch Reports.

While announcing the bill’s passing, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin called it as a positive move that would allow the governor discretionary power over Chieftaincy holders who are permitted to wear beaded crowns.

The new law provides the governor the discretionary right and sole authority to determine who wears beaded crowns without consulting the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs.

On May 12, 2023, the state Assembly held a public hearing on the proposed amendment where the opinions of all stakeholders, including traditional rulers were aggregated.

The proposal was introduced as an Executive bill by the state governor, Seyi Makinde, in order to alter the Chiefs Law.

With the passage, the state legislature has replaced sub-part (1) of section 28 with a new clause.

The initial provision of Sub-section (1) which read, ”The governor may cause such inquiries to be held at such times and in such places and by such person or persons as it or he may consider necessary or desirable” has now been substituted with “The governor may cause such inquiries to be held at such times and in such places and by such person or persons as he may consider necessary or desirable.”

To this end, former Clause (3) has now become Clause (4) hence the new Sub-section (3) now reads, “Any person who pursuant to subsection (1) of this section is elevated to wear beaded crown from Baales to Minor Chiefs who being a customary tenant shall continue to pay obeisance to his prescribed or consenting authority.”