The Oyo State House of Assembly will today, Friday conduct a public hearing on the proposed amendment of the State Chiefs Law.
The House made this resolution on Tuesday during the plenary shortly before passing the bill for second reading, adding that the directive is sequel to the approval given to a letter forwarded by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde requesting for the amendment of the said Law.
The House has therefore committed the bill to the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
According to the House, due to the sensitivity of the bill as it concerns the traditional institutions, every necessary stakeholder including the government and relevant ministry and the traditional institutions, will be invited to be part of the public hearing.
The Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin assured that the present administration will not do anything to undermine the history, culture and tradition of the people of the state.
Hon Adebo Ogundoyin added that the bill will be given all the attention it deserves.
The bill is to amend the Chiefs Law, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
The amendment seeks to empower Governor Makinde to specify the Chieftaincy holders entitled to wear beaded crowns.
The part to be amended is Subsection (1) of Section 28 of the Principal Law.
The letter read, “As part of the ongoing efforts of the present administration to specify the Chieftaincy holders entitled to wear beaded crowns in Oyo State, the Executive Council has considered the need to amend the Chiefs Law of Oyo State.
“This is as a result of agitation of many High Chiefs on the issue of beaded crowns and the volume of litigations and resentment within communities in the state.
“In view of this, I wish to forward the Executive Extract on the Chiefs (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to the House of Assembly,” it added.