The Federal Government on Thursday released the modalities for national dialogue, which has now been officially christened the ‘National Conference’, with a total number of 492 participants.
According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the breakdown shows that President Goodluck Jonathan will nominate 37 elder statesmen, one from each state and FCT, as well as the chairman, deputy chairman and secretary of the conference.
Also, the Federal Government will nominate another 20 members, but Anyim was silent on who will make the nomination.
Anyim said the conference is barred from negotiating the unity of Nigeria.
It will hold in Abuja and last, tentatively, for three months.
Further breakdown shows that retired military and security personnel will have 18 representatives; traditional rulers, 13; retired civil servants, six; The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, 24; the Organized Private Sector, eight; Nigeria Youth Organizations, 18; and women groups, 24.
Others are: Political parties with representatives in the National Assembly, two each: PDP, APC, APGA, ACCORD, LP -10; Muslims leaders – 6; Christian leaders – 6; Civil societies, 24; Nigerians in Diaspora – two each from Europe, Asia, America and Africa.
Also, people with disabilities – 6; Newspapers Proprietors – 2; Nigeria Guild of Editors – 2; Nigeria Union of Journalists – 2; Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria – 2; six geopolitical zones – 15 each – 90; professional bodies -13; former political office holders – 24; Judiciary – 6; state governments, three per state based on senatorial district and FCT 1 – 109; and former Local Government chairmen, one per zone – 6.
Anyim added in the statement: “I now have the privilege to announce that the Government, after long and mature deliberations on the Committees’ Report, accepts the following recommendations for immediate implementation:
(a) The official name of the conversation/conference shall be “The National Conference”;
(b) The National Conference shall hold in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;
(c) 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;
(d) A Conference Management Secretariat shall be established to manage, administer and run the affairs of the Conference;
(e) Decisions at the National Conference shall be by consensus; but where it is not achievable; it shall be by 75% majority;
(f) 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
(g) The National Conference shall have a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson of unimpeachable integrity.”
To actualize the conference, the SGF said delegates are expected to be nominated between January 30, 2014 and February 20, 2014 while inauguration of the conference will follow forthwith.
“The list of nominees shall 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,” Senator Anyim said.
Trending
- Tinubu-led administration not responsible for Nigerian hardship – ex-Bauchi governor
- Court adjourns case of aiding suicide of 40-year-old woman
- Man, 20, docked for alleged N3m theft
- Tinubu emplacing policies, programmes to reshape economy – Ngelale
- Transcorp Power reports strong results post listing: N142b revenue, N52.8b PBT, declares N23.46b dividend
- Seven died from inhaling generator fumes in Bayelsa
- MURIC condoles with Iran Embassy, Elzakzaky, over Raisi’s death
- Biafra Heroes Day: IPoB forewarns UNIZIK, WAEC to postpone convocation, exam slated for May 30th