The leadership of the national confab, which kicked-off at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja on Monday, has adjourned deliberation till Monday.
Delegates to the conference, which was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday, reconvened on Tuesday but could not do anything as the rules guiding proceedings are not ready yet.
It is expected that the rules will be ready on Thursday for distribution to the 492 delegates minus those of the All Progressives Congress.
Also, delegates are expected to adopt the rules when the confab reconvenes on Monday, following which proceedings will commence.
The national conference will last for three months after which its decisions will be forwarded to the National Assembly for possible enactment of relevant parts into law.
President Jonathan hinted during the inauguration that the outcome of the conference may be subjected to a referendum only if the National Assembly is able to make provision for referendum in the ongoing constitutional amendments.
The maiden sitting of the conference was jointly presided over by its Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, and his Vice Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, before it adjourned till Monday.
Secretary of the National Conference, Dr. Valerie Azinge, told delegates that the presidential speech would be debated in the first two weeks of sitting.
During the presidential speech debate, members would be expected to make informed contributions while issues that would form agenda for discussion would be formed.
Azinge also said going by the limited time frame within which the Conference is to accomplish the task, the members will break up into various committees after the debate on the President’s speech.
She said seating arrangements would be done such that a delegate’s name would be written on a seat allocated to him for occupation throughout the period.
The Assistant Secretary (Finance and Administration), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, briefed delegates that the conference would begin the day’s business at 10am and sit till 2pm, observe a lunch break and resume second session at 4pm, which will last 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 monetized.
The Assistant Secretary 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 accounts details for e-payment.
Mode of payment to the delegates, according to Prof. Yakubu, would be in periodic advance of weeks until the three months are exhausted.
Personalized conference bags are to be distributed to 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, Akpandem James, the Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, announced that a website has been developed for the conference.
It can be located at www.nigerianationalconference2014.org.
On his part, Assistant Secretary (Conference Proceedings), Dr. Akilu Ndabawa, explained his role as the conference recorder keeper.