The Chairman of Oke-Ero Local Government of Kwara, Mrs Aminat Yusuf, on Sunday said that traditional rulers should be given more constitutional recognition through the national conference.

Yusuf made this known while addressing APC members in Ilofa ward, Oke-Ero local government area of Kwara.

She urged the conference to deliberate on assigning specific roles to traditional rulers to assist government in solving the socio-economic and security challenges at the grassroots.

The chairman said most of the communities in the country were witnessing development and increase in population due to influx of job-seeking youths into cities.

"A lot of transformation is taking place at the grassroots through the three tiers of governments' transformation initiatives and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"With such a scenario, I don't think it is out of place to assign more constitutional roles to the royal fathers for efficient and effective administration of their communities.

"These initiatives, both from states and Federal Governments had done much to improve the living standards and well-being of the people at the grassroots.

According to her, the traditional rulers should be given specific roles in the administration of the grassroots communities in ensuring peaceful co-existence.

Yusuf said her administration had empowered youths and women, provided boreholes and improved the health care delivery system in the area within 100 days in office.

She urged party leaders and other stakeholders to close ranks in the discharge of their responsibilities to ensure peaceful co-existence.

"This will go a long way to assist government in the even distribution of resources and other dividends of democracy."

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the congress was organised to formally receive some politicians who defected from their party to APC. (NAN)