Kano Assembly Reverses Emirates Council Law

The Kano State House of Assembly, on Thursday, passed the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024 after it scaled through the third reading.

This law has effectively abrogated the establishment of five new emirates in the state.

All offices established under the repealed law have been set aside by the new bill. Additionally, all district heads elevated or appointed under the repealed law are to revert to their previous positions.

Plateau News gathered that the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment number 2) Law, 2024, was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member representing the Dala Constituency, Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa.

The law, which created five new emirates, was first assented to by the former governor of the state, now National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, on December 5, 2019. The governor assented to an amendment to the law on October 14, 2020, and signed another amendment on April 11, 2023.

Section 3(1) of the law established five distinct emirates: Kano, Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye.

Kano and Karaye have jurisdiction over eight local government areas each, while Bichi and Gaya share jurisdiction over nine local government areas each. Rano Emirate enjoys jurisdiction over 10 local government areas out of the 44 local councils in the state.

When Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, who chaired the council, was deposed on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to state, “There shall be the chairman of the council who shall be the emir, Kano Emirate.”

Section 12 provides that the governor may grade the office of an emir as first, second, or third class, subject to the approval of the House of Assembly.

A principal officer of the assembly, who did not want his name mentioned, told Daily Trust, “no Jupiter can stop the assembly from amending the law.”