The Adamawa State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill amending the Chiefs’ Appointment and Deposition Law No. 20 of 2025, empowering the Governor to appoint a prince from the ruling house to temporarily act on behalf of an incapacitated emir or chief.
The legislation was adopted after the presentation and consideration of a report by the House Ad-hoc Committee on the bill, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Buba Jijiwa (Jada/Mbulo).
In its recommendations, the committee proposed that the bill be retitled: “A Bill for a Law to Amend the Adamawa State Chiefs’ Appointment Law and Provide for the Appointment of an Acting Emir/Chief During the Period of Incapacitation of the Substantive Emir/Chief.”
The committee further advised that the traditional council, in consultation with the Governor, may nominate a suitable person to serve in place of an incapacitated emir or chief. Such an appointee would assume all official duties until the substantive ruler is declared medically fit by a government hospital doctor.
The report also specified that where an emir or chief fails to attend official functions three consecutive times, or three times within twelve months due to ill health, the council—working with the Governor and in line with customs—may recommend an acting replacement as provided under Section 6(f) of the law.
Following the adoption of the report, the Majority Leader, Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno (Demsa), moved the motion for the bill’s third reading, which was seconded by Hon. Haruna Jilantikiri (Madagali). The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley, then declared the bill passed and directed the Clerk to prepare a clean copy for the Governor’s assent.
Explaining the significance of the law, Hon. Mamuno said the final draft harmonised inputs from the recent public hearing with provisions from the existing principal law. She clarified that traditional councils will recommend three nominees, from which one may be appointed to act. Importantly, she stressed that the legislation does not remove the substantive emir or chief, who retains his position and resumes once medically certified fit.
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