The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Wednesday, disclosed plans for the establishment of a three-tier traditional institution in Nigeria through the ongoing alteration of the 1999 constitution.

The Speaker stated this in Abuja during an interactive session with traditional rulers as part of activities for the 2025 Open NASS Week organised by the leadership of the House in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF).

Chairing the second session of the day after the first one featuring women/gender advocacy groups, Speaker Tajudeen informed the Traditional Rulers led by the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, said the proposed three tiers of Traditional Institutions would cut across Federal, State, and Local Governments to complement the efforts of the political class.

“Permit me just to give you an insight into what the National Assembly is deliberating on as far as traditional institutions are concerned. The 10th National Assembly is actively entertaining proposals to grant some constitutional recognition to traditional institutions. In so doing, there are proposals to have a three-tier traditional council structure as follows:

“We should have a National Council of Traditional Rulers; it will be an apex body to advise the President on issues of national unity, security, and cultural affairs.

“The second tier will be the State Council of Chiefs to be constitutionally recognised by state governments regarding issues of customary laws, peacebuilding, and development. “And then Local Government Traditional Council to formally engage with local governments, especially on security, peacebuilding, and community development,” he said.