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| Last Updated: Jan 19th, 2012 - 11:25:19 |
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V.P Jonathan urges traditional rulers to be agents of peace and unity
Oct 29, 2009, 09:55
| | The Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has implored traditional rulers across the country to serve as agents of peace and unity in their domain and the country at large.
The Vice President who stated this on Tuesday October 27 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja in his goodwill message to the third conference of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, noted that the traditional rulers have been very supportive of government activities in terms of grass root mobilization, noting that, “they are respected and revered by the people, particularly at the grassroot.”
“I request that a meeting of this nature with our royal fathers should be more regular to serve as a sign post for the desired unity in the country,'' the Vice President added.
While calling on the National Assembly to consider assigning statutory roles to traditional rulers in the on-going process of Constitution review, Vice President Jonathan used the occasion to shed more light on some Government policies and decisions which were slated for deliberation in the monarchs’ Conference.
He said that the Federal Government will evolve a comprehensive labour policy that will forestall labour unrest and proffer lasting solution to the issue of wages.
In his remarks Senate President, David Mark who noted that there is a gap in the 1999 Constitution which did not carve out roles for the traditional rulers assured the gathering that the National Assembly will bridge this gap in the course of the Constitution review process.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Council and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, said the conference was convened to discuss the crisis in the educational sector, religious crises and the issue of the Niger Delta. He urged the Federal Government to create necessary awareness on the oil sector deregulation policy before implementation, observing that to the average Nigerian, deregulation translates to increase in the prices of petroleum products.
The Council's Co-Chairman, Oba Okunade Sijuade, the Ooni of Ife appealed to Government to involve the royal fathers in decision-making and policy implementation. He also called for the review of the 1999 Constitution to give statutory functions to the traditional institution.
Other dignitaries that delivered goodwill messages at the occasion include the Governors of Niger and Imo, Babangida Aliyu and Ikedi Ohakim, as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.
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