BREAKING: Kano House of Assembly Finally Revokes Emirates Council Law

The Kano State House of Assembly has officially passed the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal Bill) of 2024, marking its successful passage after the third reading. This legislation effectively nullifies the establishment of five new emirates within the state, a significant reversal of previous policies.

Under the newly enacted law, all offices that were established under the repealed legislation are now deemed defunct. Additionally, any district heads who were elevated or appointed under the previous law are instructed to revert to their previous positions.

The Majority Leader and representative of the Dala Constituency, Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, sponsored the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment Number 2) Law, 2024, which led to the repeal. Originally, the law creating the five new emirates was sanctioned by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on December 5, 2019. Subsequent amendments were made by the governor on October 14, 2020, and April 11, 2023.

Section 3(1) of the initial law delineated the boundaries of the five distinct emirates: Kano, Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye. Each of these emirates was assigned a specific number of local government areas under its jurisdiction. However, following the deposition of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, who chaired the council, on March 9, 2020, amendments were made to specify that the chairman of the council shall be the emir of Kano Emirate.

Furthermore, Section 12 of the legislation empowered the governor to categorize the office of an emir as first, second, or third class, contingent upon the approval of the House of Assembly.

An unnamed principal officer of the assembly emphasized the assembly’s authority to amend the law, stating that “no Jupiter can stop the assembly from amending the law.”