Bauchi govt sets up 41-member committee to review creation of new emirates, chiefdoms

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has inaugurated a 41-member committee to assess requests for the creation of new emirates, chiefdoms, and districts across the state.

Speaking at the inauguration held at Government House, Governor Mohammed said the move was in fulfillment of a campaign promise made in 2019.

He explained that the initiative is aimed at strengthening local governance, fostering cultural identity, and reinforcing the traditional institutions as key agents of peace, unity, and development.

The governor noted that the state had remained stagnant in the creation of traditional structures since its inception in 1976, making it necessary to revisit long-standing demands for social equity and historical legitimacy.

According to him, “the rationale for creating new emirates, chiefdoms, and districts is to promote peace, development, and inclusivity by empowering communities to participate more actively in governance.”

Governor Mohammed outlined the committee’s terms of reference, which include receiving and evaluating memoranda from communities based on set criteria, verifying historical and political justifications, and assessing leadership structures, population figures, and geographic boundaries. The committee is also expected to conduct stakeholder engagements to ensure minority representation.

The committee is chaired by Alhaji Hamza Koshe Akuyam (Banagan Misau) from Misau LGA, with Justice Habibu Idris Shall from Tafawa Balewa LGA serving as deputy chairman.

In his remarks, Akuyam pledged that the committee would carry out its assignment with transparency, fairness, and integrity, assuring the governor of a thorough and inclusive review process.