The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has approved the appointment of a 41-member high-powered committee to oversee the creation of new emirates, chiefdoms, and districts within the state.
This development followed an earlier call by the state government inviting interested communities to submit memoranda requesting the creation of such traditional and administrative entities.
According to a press release signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, Mukhtar Gidado, the committee will evaluate all submissions in accordance with defined criteria to ensure fairness, equity, and financial sustainability of the emirates, chiefdoms, and districts.
“This is in a bold move to deepen grassroots governance, preserve cultural heritage, and promote inclusivity across traditional institutions in the state,” the statement read in part.
The composition of the committee comprises a diverse and experienced group of traditional rulers, judicial officers, academics, civil servants, and representatives from religious bodies, civil society organisations, and the media.
A former State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Hamza Akuyam, will serve as Chairman, while Justice Habibu Shall has been named Deputy Chairman.
Key government officials such as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Culture, and representatives from security agencies are also part of the committee.
Civil society and religious organisations are equally represented, including the state branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).