Breaking: Kano Assembly repeals Emirates Council Law

After scaling its third reading, the Kano State House of Assembly passed the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024 on Thursday.

This new legislation effectively dismantles the creation of the state’s five additional emirates.

The new bill sets aside all offices established under the repealed law.

Persecondnews reports that all district heads elevated or appointed under the repealed law must return to their previous positions.

Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, the Majority Leader and member representing the Dala Constituency, sponsored the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment Number 2) Law, 2024.

On December 5, 2019, ex-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje first approved the law that established five new emirates.

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

Persecondnews recalls that when Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, who chaired the council, was deposed on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to read: “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 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, said:“No Jupiter can stop the assembly from amending the law.”