The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has handed over vehicles to 10 3rd Class Chiefs in the Federal Capital and promised improved welfare for the traditional leaders.
The 3rd Class Chiefs were from Gomani, Yaba, Bwari, Pai, Garki, Jiwa, Wako, Rubochi, Gwargwarda, and Zuba Chiefdoms, all in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
While handing over the Nissan Semi SUV keys to the traditional rulers, the Minister explained that the gesture was part of government efforts to ease the mobility of the traditional leaders.
Wike said that “the government has a responsibility to encourage traditional leaders by providing them all the necessary logistics to enable them to do their work diligently and with ease.”
“Part of that is mobility. I can’t see how traditional rulers will be boarding taxis or entering public transport. That is unacceptable.
“President Bola Tinubu has directed that should not be allowed to continue. Has asked that we do everything possible to make it convenient and easy for you to do your assignment,” he said.
Wike said that in line with the renewed agenda of President Tinubu, every stakeholder has a role to play, including traditional rulers, particularly in the area of security.
He said; “You know your community better than anybody; you know the people within their community, so you will be able to identify those who look like strangers.
“No agency will perform its function without the support of traditional rulers, and we believe that we must partner together to achieve the fight against insecurity.
“So today we are handing over 10 vehicles to you to please help in supporting the government to fight insecurity in your domain. Be sure that we are going to work together.
“If we don’t work together, we will not achieve results, because everybody is important in the fight against insecurity.”
The Minister also disclosed that President Tinubu has directed the FCTA to make traditional rulers very comfortable by augmenting the little allowances the Area Councils were providing to leaders.
He said: “We will soon meet with the Area Councils’ Chairmen and the traditional rulers so that we can work out strategies for the welfare package and what role you will play to assist the government in achieving its renewed agenda.
“The new agenda is that things must work.
“The Mandate Secretaries have been appointed and sworn in. I don’t want to hear any excuses from any department.
“We are not here to give excuses; we know there were challenges before we came here. We must solve these challenges,” Wike said.
Responding, the Chairman, of the FCT Council of Traditional Rulers, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, thanked the Minister for the support and pledged the support of traditional rulers to move FCT forward.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
