Author: Emmanuel Leke

Speaking on the position of the Consensus Group, the Chairman of Conference, retired Justice Idris Kutigi, said President Jonathan should set up technical committee to decide on the appropriate percentage for oil producing states and areas destroyed by insurgency in the country

Oando said the debt is part of a $1.2 billion facility it approved for its subsidiary in February to help finance the acquisition of ConocoPhillips Nigerian assets

However, the lawmakers unanimously adopted the recommendations, which directed NNPC to remit $927 million into the Federation Account as recommended in the report

Members of the Consensus Committee derived from the six geopolitical zones to find a middle ground to the contentious issue of derivation formula could not reach an agreement on the resolution to be presented to the plenary

The issue, which had divided the Conference along the Northern and Southern lines, could not be resolved amicably on Monday and Tuesday

Kutigi said the confab secretariat is just getting ready for “any eventuality, but we hope will reach consensus on everything”

The slim-volume submission, loaded with serious issues, focused principally on devolving power from the centre to the federating units and the issue of resources

This was disclosed on Monday while the delegates were speaking on the report of the Conference Committee on Power Devolution

Lawan, who expressed dissatisfaction with the policy of Okorocha, blamed the Federal government for the insecurity problem facing Nigeria

It could be recalled that a national newspaper alleged that Akinyemi lobbied some Northern delegates to adopt the proposal to write a new constitution

The primary school teachers’ grievances stemmed from the state government’s inability to implement the N18,000 National Minimum Wage, which other primary school teachers in other states have been enjoying

The Conference adopted the recommendation that any state that requires it shall establish a police force to be operated and run by the state

The trouble started when the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Senator Andy Uba (PDP Anambra South), stood up to applaud INEC for a job well done on the Ekiti State governorship election

Immediately Kutigi gave the order, the security operatives started harassing journalists and sending them out of the gallery while all the cameras were disabled

At plenary sessions, The Eagle Online observed that more than half of the delegates are not on seat, a development which is a source of concern to the Federal Government

Bolaji Akinyemi, who made this known to the delegates, complained that more than half of the conference delegates are not on seat during plenary, adding that the development is source of concern to the Federal Government

The reason might not be unconnected with crisis that rock the party in Ogun State on who should control the structure of the party between the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and Osoba

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gabjabiamila, on Friday said the zoning system adopted by the party was intentional since it was not entrenched in the party’s constitution

Ndoma-Egba said that the boundary demarcation is being conducted by officials from the United Nations and the African Union

Delegates also adopted the recommendation of the Conference Committee on Public Service to make legislators at the national and state levels to function on part time basis, while their allowances should be what obtains in other arms of public service