The Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamalli, has backed the Kaduna State Government’s decision to increase the salaries and allowances of traditional rulers, describing the intervention as an important step towards improving the welfare of traditional institutions across the state.
The salary review was approved by Governor Uba Sani and covers traditional rulers across Kaduna’s three senatorial districts, including emirs, chiefs, district heads and village heads. The new arrangement took effect from September 1, 2026.
The government’s decision followed concerns over the longstanding remuneration of traditional rulers. Kaduna’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sadiq Mamman-Lagos, said some village heads had remained on a monthly salary of ₦26,000 for more than three decades before the review was approved.
According to the commissioner, the increase is intended not only to improve the welfare of traditional rulers but also to strengthen their ability to perform their responsibilities at the grassroots. He said traditional institutions remain important channels for gathering information from communities and supporting security efforts.
The state government has also approved monthly security allowances for all 35 emirates and chiefdoms in Kaduna. The allowances are intended to strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering and assist security agencies in responding to crime and other security threats.
For traditional institutions, the increase represents a significant change after years of concerns over remuneration. Traditional rulers remain influential figures in many Kaduna communities, particularly in areas where residents rely on local leaders to mediate disputes, communicate government policies and help resolve tensions.
The security component of the package is particularly relevant to Kaduna, a state that has faced serious security challenges, including banditry and attacks on communities. Traditional rulers can provide authorities with information about developments within their communities, although their ability to contribute effectively also depends on the wider security and intelligence system.
The Emir of Zazzau's support therefore comes at a time when the Kaduna government is placing greater emphasis on the role of traditional institutions in grassroots administration and security. The state's commissioner has argued that improving their welfare can help strengthen that relationship.
However, the salary increase also raises questions about its financial implications and how the new remuneration structure will be sustained over time. A significant increase in recurrent personnel-related expenditure needs to be matched by a clear and sustainable funding arrangement, particularly when state governments are already balancing salary, pension, infrastructure and security obligations.
The government has not presented the salary review simply as a welfare measure. Its officials have linked the policy to the broader role traditional rulers play in grassroots governance and security. That makes the effectiveness of the intervention likely to be judged not only by whether traditional rulers receive higher pay, but also by whether the additional support produces stronger engagement with communities and security agencies.
The development also comes ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, when traditional institutions are likely to remain important actors in community mobilisation, conflict prevention and communication. That makes the relationship between the government and traditional rulers politically significant, although the salary increase itself should not automatically be interpreted as an electoral strategy without evidence.
For Kaduna’s traditional rulers, the immediate change is straightforward: they are set to receive improved remuneration after years of concerns over inadequate pay. For the state government, the larger test will be whether the additional spending delivers measurable improvements in grassroots administration, community engagement and security intelligence.
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