(http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/images/resized/images/stories/2011/february2011/jonathan_appts_10-02-11_200_160.jpg)PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has announced establishment of a constitutional framework to ensure that traditional rulers across the country are given definite roles to play in the administration of the nation.
Speaking at the palace of the Tor Tiv in Gboko during an interactive session with Benue State traditional rulers, President Jonathan said the action had become necessary because of the important roles traditional rulers have played in promoting security and stabilizing the economy.
At a different forum in Abuja yesterday, Jonathan said his administration was fully committed to the implementation of reforms that would ensure that operations of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) conformed to global best practices.
According to him, a draft bill on the planned official roles for the rulers had been sent to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for onward submission to the National Assembly.
The president stated that the traditional rulers would, after the passage of the law, have functional roles to play in the task of developing the nation and assure them of increased federal presence in the states if elected during the April general elections.
He commended the Benue State Council of Chiefs for supporting his administration, urging them to continue to support his government in the interest of national development.
In his response, Tor Tiv and the Chairman of Benue State Council of Chiefs, Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula said concrete action needed to be taken on definite roles for traditional rulers. He said so much lip service had been paid on the issue of roles for monarchs. He affirmed the support of the Benue State traditional council for the administration of President Jonathan to deliver on good governance to the people.
Earlier in the day, President Jonathan had commissioned the newly re-constructed LGEA Primary School, Wurukum, Makurdi, which was said to be personally funded by Governor Gabriel Suswam. He urged other governors to emulate Suswam by investing personal resources to execute key educational projects.
The President also embarked on inspection of key projects of the state government in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
Speaking at a meeting with the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, President Jonathan said the Federal Government fully appreciated the critical role, which an efficient customs service could play in the economic development of any nation.
The president said his administration would therefore continue to give the leadership of the Nigerian Customs Service all the political support required to successfully reposition the agency to meet globally acceptable standards of operation.
According to the President, "Customs services are critical to the economic development of nations and are also an essential part of trade relations amongst countries. Your efforts to keep everybody on the same page as far as customs services are concerned are most helpful and we really appreciate your coming to interact with the leadership of our customs service."
According to him, the Federal Government will welcome all the support the WCO can give the Nigerian Customs Service to ensure that it is successfully reformed and modernized to meet the challenges of the challenges of the 21st century.
President Jonathan told Mikuriya that he would always hold the customs service dear to his heart because his first job in life was with the preventive arm of the Nigerian Customs Service, adding that his stint with the service had given a working knowledge of customs operations which he still found useful.
Mikuriya applauded President Jonathan's support for the reformation and modernization of Nigeria's customs operations.
He particularly praised the President's support for the establishment of a Customs Staff College, noting that other countries in Africa would also benefit from training in the college when it became fully operational.
Mikuriya also informed President Jonathan that he had in the course of his visit to Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Source: Federal Govt Plans Constitutional Roles For Monarchs (http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39058:federal-govt-plans-constitutional-roles-for-monarchs&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)