The Adamawa State House of Assembly has passed a bill amending the Adamawa State Chiefs’ Appointment and Deposition Law No. 20 of 2025, empowering the Governor to appoint a prince from the ruling house to act in place of an incapacitated Emir or Chief.
The bill was passed on Wednesday following the presentation, consideration and adoption of the report of the House Adhoc Committee on the bill, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Buba Jijiwa (Jada/Mbulo).
According to the committee’s recommendations, the title of the bill was amended to read: “A bill for a law to amend the Adamawa State Chiefs’ Appointment and to provide for appointment of an acting Emir/Chief during the period of incapacitation of the substantive Emir/Chief.”
The committee further recommended that the traditional council, in consultation with the Governor, may appoint a person to act in place of an incapacitated Emir or Chief. The appointee would perform all the duties and functions of the substantive traditional ruler until he is certified recovered by a medical doctor from a government hospital.
The report also stipulated that if an Emir or Chief absents himself from official functions three times consecutively, or within a 12-month period on health grounds, the council, in consultation with the Governor and in line with customs and traditions, may appoint a person to act as provided in section 6(f) of the law.
After adoption of the report, the Majority Leader, Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno (Demsa), moved the motion for the third reading of the bill, seconded by Hon. Haruna Jilantikiri (Madagali). The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley, thereafter announced the passage of the bill and directed the Clerk to prepare a clean copy for the Governor’s assent.
Speaking on the merits of the legislation, Hon. Kate Mamuno explained that the inputs collated during the recent public hearing were harmonised with the principal law. She added that traditional councils will nominate three persons for appointment to act during the period of incapacitation, stressing that the affected Emir or Chief will not be removed but will remain the substantive ruler until certified fit to resume duties.
