Indirect Rule is a system of local administration that makes use of Chiefs or traditional rulers in council. It was a colonial policy used by the British in some of their African colonies, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda.
Under the Indirect Rule system, the colonial government did not directly govern the people but instead relied on existing traditional rulers or appointed chiefs to govern on their behalf. The colonial government would provide support and oversight, but the day-to-day administration of local affairs was left in the hands of the traditional rulers or chiefs.
The Indirect Rule system was seen as a cost-effective and efficient way of governing the colonies, as it made use of existing traditional structures and minimized the need for the colonial government to create new administrative systems. However, it was also criticized for entrenching the power of traditional rulers and chiefs at the expense of ordinary people and for reinforcing the social and political hierarchies of the traditional societies.
In summary, Indirect Rule is a system of local administration used by colonial powers that relies on existing traditional rulers or chiefs to govern on their behalf.