Fintiri can hire, fire monarchs as assembly repeals appointment, deposition law
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has assumed significant authority to hire and fire traditional rulers following the amendment state’s Chiefs’ Appointment and Deposition Law.
The bill effectively strengthens the governor with powers to appoint, suspends, and temporary replace traditional rulers in the state on account of ill health.
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The new legislation, passed during Wednesday’s plenary session, is a significant modification of Law No. 20 of 2025, which had earlier guided the appointment and deposition of traditional rulers.
With the amendment, the governor now has explicit authority to appoint a prince from the ruling house to serve as acting emir or chief in situations where the substantive occupant of the throne is incapacitated.
The bill was considered following the presentation and adoption of the report of the House Adhoc Committee chaired by Deputy Speaker Mohammed Buba Jijiwa, who represents Jada/Mbulo constituency.
The original Chiefs’ Appointment and Deposition Law was enacted to streamline the process of succession and discipline within Adamawa’s revered traditional institution.
The law provided guidelines on how traditional rulers are to be selected, recognized, or deposed in line with customs, traditions, and government oversight.
However, gaps remained in situations where a traditional ruler becomes incapacitated due to ill health but is not formally deposed. This often led to leadership vacuums, succession disputes, or power struggles within emirates and chiefdoms as witnessed on several occasions.
The amendment passed by the Assembly now fills this vacuum by clearly defining who takes charge during such periods.
According to the report of the Adhoc Committee, the new title of the legislation will read: “A bill for a law to amend the Adamawa State Chiefs’ Appointment Law and provide for the appointment of an acting emir or chief during the period of incapacitation of the substantive emir or chief.”
The committee further recommended that:
The traditional council, in consultation with the governor, shall appoint a person to act in the place of an incapacitated chief or emir. The appointee shall carry out all duties and functions of the incapacitated ruler until a medical doctor from a government hospital certifies that the substantive ruler has recovered.
The new law also provided that if a chief or emir absents himself from official functions three consecutive times, or three times within 12 months, due to ill health, the traditional council in consultation with the governor may appoint an acting ruler in line with existing customs and traditions.
These provisions, lawmakers say, will ensure continuity of leadership and avert crises in traditional councils when a ruler becomes indisposed.
After the adoption of the report, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno of Demsa constituency, moved for the bill to be read a third time.
The motion was seconded by Hon. Haruna Jilantikiri of Madagali constituency, after which the Speaker, Bathiya Wesley, announced its passage and directed the clerk to prepare a clean copy for Governor Fintiri’s assent.
Explaining the merits of the amendment, Hon. Mamuno disclosed that the law harmonized the inputs collated during a recent public hearing with provisions from the principal law.
She clarified that the affected emir or chief is not deposed but only temporarily relieved of duties until he is medically certified fit to return to the throne.
She added that the traditional council would be required to nominate three persons, from whom the governor will appoint one to serve as acting ruler.
The passage of the bill further underscores the delicate balance between tradition and modern governance in Adamawa State.
Traditional institutions remain influential, serving as custodians of culture and intermediaries between the people and government. However, their roles are also subject to state laws and the oversight of elected officials.
Analysts say the law also strengthens the governor’s influence over traditional institutions, a development that may spark debates over autonomy and the sanctity of cultural heritage.
