The Act establishes a Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims. The powers and functions of the Commission are to investigate the following cases:

• Where there is doubt about a kingship, chieftainship or headmanship
• Contests over traditional leadership
• Claims by communities to be recognised as traditional communities
• Establishment or breakdown of tribes
• Disputes over traditional authority boundaries and the merger of tribes

Anyone can lodge a dispute with the Commission. They must say what the dispute or claim is about and give all relevant information. The Commission can decide not to consider the dispute or claim because they don’t have enough information.

The Commission can also choose to do its own investigations.