DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2017.v05i09.013

Pages: 1182-1189

In Nembe community from the 1980s the income patterns have changed. New income patterns have become prominent and men in these new occupations are more and more becoming chiefs. The objective of this study is to look at the effect these new income patterns on the chieftaincy institution in Nembe today. We adopted the expos facto research design. The study population is the entire membership of the chieftaincy councils in Ogbolomabiri and Bassambiri sections of the town. The total membership was 315 as at 2014, out of which a sample of 180 was purposively chosen. Stratified sampling was used to draw 90 each from Bassambiri and Ogbolomabiri. The 90 were obtained by convenience sampling. A structured Likert 4 point scale questionnaire was served on face to face basis. Result is presented in tables and simple percentages and analyzed with the arithmetic mean. The entry age into the institution has come down considerably. 47% of them were below age 40 when they were installed. More chiefs were installed within 2001 – 2010 (52%). All chiefs have had some form of formal education. 98% of chiefs receive income through new occupations, and they completely disagree that chiefs should reside permanently in their communities and should not hold political appointment. They are in complete agreement with the formalized entry requirements into the institution. These new income patterns have had tremendous effect on who becomes a chief, the politics of the institution and its relationship with the rest of the society.