Traditional Rulers, Baales Lament Poor Pay, Unpaid Allowances Across South-West Nigeria

Traditional rulers and village heads across several communities in South-West Nigeria have raised concerns over poor remuneration, irregular payments and prolonged delays in the release of their monthly allowances, saying the situation has made it increasingly difficult to meet their personal needs and effectively manage their communities.

The affected traditional titleholders, particularly Baales, said some had gone several months or even years without receiving government payments, while others received monthly stipends ranging between N10,000 and N15,000, which they described as inadequate for the responsibilities attached to their positions.

Some village heads also disclosed that they continued to perform traditional duties, attend official meetings, settle disputes and support residents financially despite receiving little or no assistance from the government.

The complaints have renewed concerns about the funding and management of traditional institutions at the local government level, particularly the distribution of the five per cent allocation reportedly earmarked for traditional rulers.

The development follows recent complaints by the Oloyan of Oyan in Osun State, Oba Kelani Adekeye, who lamented that traditional rulers and chiefs in his area had not received their salaries for seven months.

In a video that circulated widely on social media, the monarch expressed frustration over the situation, declaring: “The kings and chiefs are starving.”

Further accounts from traditional rulers in Osun, Oyo and Ogun states indicate that the financial difficulties are not restricted to one community, with several village heads and monarchs reporting similar experiences.

Osun Monarchs, Baales Complain of Unpaid Salaries

A prominent traditional ruler in Osun State, who spoke anonymously, disclosed that several monarchs were experiencing financial difficulties, with some approaching their colleagues for assistance.

According to him, the problem extends beyond junior traditional titleholders, as even some senior monarchs are struggling to meet their financial obligations.

He said: “The monarch you are talking about is not the only one complaining. Some of them, even those who are older than me, have approached me to seek support, although I am also not being paid as a king.

“Kings are lamenting, and we know why. We have no money. We just hope that President Bola Tinubu will see to the release of the local government allocations being withheld by the Federal Government.”

Similarly, a Baale in Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State said he had not received any salary since becoming a village head more than three years ago.

The traditional titleholder explained that he had been relying on proceeds from his personal business and other sources of income to discharge his traditional responsibilities.

He further disclosed that approximately 31 Baales in the local government were facing similar challenges, alleging that they received neither regular government payments nor all their expected entitlements.

He said: “I have not received any salary since I assumed the throne over three years ago. I have only been surviving because I already had what I was doing before I became a baale.

“About 31 of us in Ede North Local Government are not receiving anything from the government. We are also not getting all our entitlements.”

Oyo Monarch Questions Distribution of Traditional Rulers’ Allowances

The complaints have also emerged from parts of Oyo State, where a traditional ruler from the Ogbomoso area questioned the amount eventually received by lower-ranking traditional titleholders.

The monarch explained that the existing arrangement placed first-class traditional rulers in control of the five per cent allocation meant for traditional institutions from local government funds.

He alleged that senior monarchs received the larger portions before distributing the remaining funds among second-class and third-class traditional rulers and village heads.

According to him, the amount reaching some Baales was insufficient to support their responsibilities or adequately maintain their communities.

He said: “What some of us receive every month is nothing to write home about. I have people, village heads, receiving between N10,000 and N15,000 every month. What are they going to do with such a terrible amount?

“The allocation to traditional rulers sits with the first-class kings, who then distribute it to lesser kings and village heads. Before it gets down, the money would have been reduced to crumbs. What we receive cannot sustain us.”

Ogun Baales Accuse Government of Neglect

In Ogun State, several Baales also complained about inadequate financial support, saying they had continued to spend their personal resources to manage their communities and carry out traditional responsibilities.

A village head in Ewekoro Local Government Area accused the government of neglecting traditional institutions despite regularly relying on community leaders to mobilise residents during elections.

He claimed that approximately 700 Baales operated in the local government, but only about 20 received monthly stipends of N10,000. He added that even the payments made to the beneficiaries were irregular.

The traditional ruler also questioned the requirement for village heads to pay before collecting digital certificates, describing the financial demand as burdensome for people already struggling to meet their basic needs.

He said: “We are getting nothing from the government. We are about 700 baales in Ewekoro Local Government, and about 20 of us are receiving a monthly stipend of N10,000, but even this is not paid regularly. Some time ago, we were asked to pay N80,000 to collect a digital certificate. What that means, I really don’t know. Yet, when elections come, we are the ones they call upon to mobilise people for them.”

Another Baale from Ogun Waterside Local Government Area said he was unaware of any village head in the area receiving a regular monthly allowance.

He explained that community leaders frequently used their personal funds to attend official meetings and fulfil responsibilities assigned to them.

The traditional titleholder added that the demands of traditional leadership sometimes prevented Baales from concentrating on their private businesses and other sources of livelihood.

He said: “There are over 70 baales in Ogun Waterside Local Government, but I don’t know of any baale who is receiving a monthly stipend. Even when we go for meetings, we spend our money.

“The baales are hungry, not to talk of the residents. So, the government must address this situation because once you become a baale, you may not even have time to attend to your business because of meetings here and there.

“So, the government must recognise that baales play crucial roles in maintaining law and order at the grassroots and should, therefore, be supported to discharge these responsibilities with ease.”

In Remo North Local Government Area, another Baale confirmed that village heads had experienced irregular payments.

He recalled that they previously received N15,000 monthly through the Akarigbo but said the payments stopped in March.

The traditional ruler questioned the adequacy of the allowance, noting that village heads were expected to attend meetings, settle disputes and provide assistance to residents despite the limited financial support.

He said: “There was a time we were receiving N15,000 from the government through the Akarigbo, but we have not received anything since March. What can N15,000 do? It is not even sufficient to buy recharge cards, yet we run our domains daily with our own money.

“Elections are here, and they have started coming, but once the elections are over, the baale becomes nothing. It is that bad, and there is hardship in the land. Many times, it is when we also have nothing that we are expected to support residents in need.”

Kwara Monarch Laments N3,000 Monthly Stipend for Village Heads

The complaints have extended beyond the South-West, with the Baale of Okerimioro in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Chief Olusola Gbadeyan, also expressing dissatisfaction with the financial treatment of traditional titleholders.

Gbadeyan said he had not received any salary since his installation in December 2025, despite performing traditional responsibilities, including resolving disagreements among members of his community.

He disclosed that he had depended on financial assistance from relatives and other people living in Lagos to meet his personal needs.

A video showing the monarch questioning the payment of N3,000 monthly stipends to some village heads recently circulated on social media, generating reactions from members of the public.

In the footage, Gbadeyan expressed disappointment over the amount paid to traditional titleholders, particularly those who had served their communities for several years.

He said: “I came from Lagos to be made a chief, and I observed that our elders who have been installed for 15–20 years are suffering. Does a chief deserve to be paid N3,000 as a stipend? It is demeaning to be collecting a N3,000 monthly stipend. What do you want the chiefs collecting a N3,000 monthly stipend to do with that?

“I was called from Lagos to become chief. I brought my mother, wives and children down to Oro, and up till now, I have not been paid anything from either the local government or the community.”

Speaking further, the Kwara traditional ruler maintained that his remarks were intended to draw attention to the financial difficulties facing village heads rather than tarnish the image of any individual or government official.

He said: “All that I said in the video is correct, and it was not to tarnish anybody’s image but to call on the appropriate authorities to make amendments.”

Osun Government Blames Non-Release of Local Government Allocations

Responding to the complaints, the Osun State Government attributed the challenges facing traditional rulers to the non-release of local government allocations.

The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, explained that traditional rulers were entitled to five per cent of monthly local government allocations, which was expected to be distributed among the various categories of traditional institutions.

He maintained that the responsibility for paying traditional rulers did not rest directly with the state government.

According to him, the funds were expected to pass through the traditional hierarchy, with the allocation shared among first-class monarchs, other categories of traditional rulers and Baales.

Rasheed said: “Constitutionally, traditional rulers have five per cent from the local government across the 36 states. Each of these local governments has traditional rulers in different classes, and they also have Baales under them.

“Hence, they will rationalise the five per cent allocation among themselves and share it based on their levels until it gets to the Baales.

“Therefore, the funds are not coming from the state government, and there is no way any traditional ruler can get remunerated when the five per cent allocation is not available.”

Ogun Government Directs Complaints to Local Councils

The Ogun State Government, however, offered a different explanation, insisting that issues concerning the remuneration of Baales fell within the responsibilities of their respective local governments.

The Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, explained that Baales were appointed by traditional rulers overseeing their respective jurisdictions.

He advised village heads experiencing payment difficulties to approach their local government authorities for clarification and necessary action.

Akinmade said: “The baales are the appointees of their respective kabiyesi, who is in charge of that jurisdiction. And it is the responsibility of the local government to give them whatever is due to them.

“So, if they are having any challenge in that area, they should direct their complaints to the local government because the state government will not be expected to usurp the roles of the local governments”.

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Efforts to obtain further clarification from the Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, were unsuccessful.

Oyo Government Rejects Claims of Unpaid Traditional Rulers

In Oyo State, however, the government rejected allegations that traditional rulers were not receiving their expected payments.

The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, dismissed the complaints when contacted, insisting that the situation was not as presented by the monarchs who spoke about their financial difficulties.

He said: “That is far from the truth.”

The commissioner did not provide further details or supporting information to explain the government’s position.