Religion sitting arrangements agitate Conference delegates

Religion and sitting arrangements sharply divided delegates to the National Conference in Abuja yesterday, its first day of business, and conference materials were not yet ready.

The provision of praying ground for Muslim delegates provoked agitation from  Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who demanded that Christian delegates who were observing the lent season also required a place of prayer, which had not been provided.

Also Tuesday, Charles Edosowan and Sergeant Awuse, delegates from Edo and Rivers state respectively, advocated free sitting, to allow delegates from the same states or regions confer on issues before the conference, but their demands were knocked down by  Olusegun Osoba, who observed that delegates must first see themselves as Nigerians, rather than as clansmen , and that those who wished to confer could do so elsewhere. continue....


The National Conference which was jointly presided over by its chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi and vice chairman,  Bolaji Akinyemi, a professor of international relations, however resolved that Christians could pray before sittings, while delegates would sit according to an arrangement that would be put in place, with name tags for each person.

The Conference, however,  proceeded on a one week vacation, to enable members study rules of procedures to be debated and adopted, while adequate arrangements would be concluded by the end of the break.

The members would also use the break to study President Goodluck Jonathan’s inaugural speech declaring the 3-month Conference open, to enable them make informed contributions.

Secretary of the National Conference,  Valerie Azinge, had informed the delegates that the presidential speech would be debated in the first two weeks of sitting, during which issues that would crystalise into agenda for discussion would be formed.

Azinge further explained that given the limited time frame within which the Conference is to accomplish the task, it would break  into various committees after the debate on the president’s speech.

The secretary also informed the delegates that sitting arrangements would be done such that a delegate’s name would be written on a seat allocated to him for occupation throughout the period.

Also taking his turn, Mahmood Yakubu, Assistant Secretary, Finance and Administration, informed the delegates that the Conference would begin the day’s business at 10am till 2pm; observe a lunch break and resume second session at 4pm till 6pm.

Yakubu further told the delegates that sitting would be from Monday to Thursday every week, while “everything”, including accommodation, feeding, transportation, and sitting have been monetised.

Moreso, the Assistant Secretary (F&A) told the delegates that since the federal government prohibits cash payment, every individual shall be paid electronically, hence the  need for them to submit their account details for e-payment.

Mode of payment to the delegates, according to Yakubu, would be in periodic advance of two weeks until the three months are exhausted.

Personalised Conference bags are to be distributed among the delegates, while their seats are to bear name tags, and each delegate is to provide his medical details, including the name and address of his physician.

Also addressing the Conference delegates, James Akpandem as Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications announced that a website has been developed for the Conference thus:  www.nigerianationalconference2014.org.