Traditional rulers in the South-West have lamented the non-payment of their monthly salaries, saying the situation has made it impossible for them to maintain their palaces, meet their daily needs or perform their customary duties.
The baales, or village heads, among them said they receive between N10,000 and N15,000 each month.
Their complaints came after the Oloyan of Oyan in Osun State, Oba Kelani Adekeye, said in a viral video that traditional rulers and chiefs in the state had gone seven months without salaries.
“The kings and chiefs are starving,” Oba Adekeye said in the video.
Findings showed that other traditional rulers share his plight. A prominent king in Osun State, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many royal fathers were finding it hard to feed themselves and were asking for financial assistance.
The chiefs said the unpaid salaries have left them unable to keep up their palaces or carry out their traditional responsibilities.
