By Kamil Opeyemi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, on Friday presented 10 vehicles to 3rd Class Chiefs in the federal capital and promised improved welfare for traditional leaders.
The 3rd Class chiefs were from Gomani, Yaba, Bwari, Pai, Garki, Jiwa, Wako, Rubochi, Gwargwada and Zuba Chiefdoms.
Wike explained, while handing over the Nissan Semi SUV keys to the traditional rulers in Abuja, that the gesture was part of government efforts to ease the mobility of the traditional leaders.
He 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 that should not be allowed to continue. Has asked that we must do everything possible to make it convenient and easy for you to do your assignment,” he said.
He said that in line with the renewed agenda of Tinubu, every stakeholder has a role to play, including traditional rulers, particularly in the area of security.
“You know your communities better than anybody; you know the people within their communities, 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 going to hand 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,” Wike said.
The minister also disclosed that Tinubu has directed the FCTA to make traditional rulers very comfortable by augmenting the little allowances the Area Councils were providing them.
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 to achieve its renewed agenda.
“The new agender 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 are challenges before we came here. It is our duty to solve these challenges,” Wike said.
Responding, the Chairman, 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.