Nat Confab To Gulp N7bn In 3 Months …As FG Lists Modalities, ‘No Go’Areas

The Federal Government, yesterday in Abuja released modalities for the forthcoming National Conference, and said the conference, which would last three months, will cost N7 billion.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who announced the modalities at a press conference attended by Chairman of the National Conference Advisory Committee, Senator Femi Okunronmu and the Secretary, Dr. Akilu Indabawa, listed some ‘no go’ areas, which he said, include the indivisibility and unity of Nigeria.

Anyim said in the statement that the official name of the conversation/conference shall be “the National Conference”, adding that “the National Conference shall hold in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja”.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation further noted that “the National Conference shall tentatively last for 3 months and shall discuss any subject matter, except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation, therefore the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.”

Other aspects of the modalities include that “a Conference Management Secretariat shall be established to manage, administer and run the affairs of the conference”; and that the “decisions at the National Conference shall be by consensus; but where it is not achievable; it shall be by 75% majority.

“The National Conference shall advise the government on the legal framework, legal procedures and options for integrating the decisions and outcomes of the national conference into the Constitution and laws of the country; and

“The National Conference shall have a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson of unimpeachable integrity.

According to Anyim, “Furthermore, the Federal Government has since approved the next steps necessary towards actualising the National Conference as follows:

(i) 30th January, 2014 – Formal release of the modalities for the National Conference;

(ii) 30th January, 2014 – 20th February, 2014-Nomination of Delegates;

(iii) Inauguration of the Conference will follow soon after the delegate list is concluded”.

He stated that the modalities for the nomination of delegates to the conference are as provided in a separate document.

Anyim advised that the list of nominees should be submitted either online to www.osgf.gov.ng or in hard copy to the Office of the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties Office), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase I, 3rd Floor, Central Business District, Abuja.

He added that the formal inauguration of the conference shall follow as soon as the nominations are received and collated.

The Tide learnt that the conference would cost the government some N7 billion, with 492 delegates attending.

A breakdown shows that 37 elder statesmen, 10 National Assembly members, 90 members of socio-political/ethnic groups and 24 women are to attend.

Others to attend the conference are 18 youths, eight Nigerians in Diaspora, 109 representatives of 36 States and the FCT, 24 Civil Society activists, 24 Labour leaders and 148 others to be determined and nominated by the presidency.