Village heads in Jigawa State have called on the state government to formally recognise their roles through official employment, saying it would improve their effectiveness at the grassroots level.
The appeal came shortly after the leaders received an increase in their monthly allowance—from N2,000 to N10,000—approved by Governor Umar Namadi.
Speaking in an interview, the village head of Maina in Ringim Local Government Area, Yahaya Ya’u, expressed appreciation for the increment but noted that more needs to be done to strengthen their roles.
He called on the government to issue formal appointment letters to village heads, similar to those given to district heads and other recognised traditional leaders. According to him, such recognition would clearly define their responsibilities and better integrate them into the state’s administrative system.
Yahaya explained that village heads play a crucial role in maintaining peace within their communities, overseeing local activities, and fostering harmony between farmers and herders. He added that formalising their positions would further equip them to support government efforts in grassroots governance and security.
