The National Conference has expressed concerns over a planned peaceful protest by aides and drivers of delegates who had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, informing him of their intention to stage a peaceful protest against the non-payment of allowances to them.
This even as delegates revealed that they are yet to collect six weeks allowances.
At the resumption of the plenary on Monday, the Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, who read the IGP’s letter sent to the Conference, said the letter from drivers and aides was sent back to the conference secretariat for action as he informed the Conference that even principal officers have not been paid.
The former Minister implored the delegates to call their aides and drivers to order because such protest would not be welcomed by the conference.
According to Akinyemi, the welfare of aides and delegates were not captured by government while drawing up the budget for the conference.
He told the delegates: “Don’t give impressions you can’t control them.
“If you cannot, security will control them.”
It could be recalled that the drivers and aides had complained against non-provision of salaries and allowances to them by the conference.
The Conference Secretariat had explained when the request was made for entry permits to such persons, that the conference could only make provisions to enable them have access to venue but would not make any provisions for their finance.
Conference said that the welfare of the drivers and the aides would be handled by the delegates.
Despite this, the aides and drivers had continuously agitated for payment by the conference.
Speaking on the planned protest by drivers and aides, Dan Nwanyanwu informed the conference that agitation for payments was being orchestrated by aides and drivers of principal officers of the conference and other ancillary staff.
Nwanyanwu said: “The last time you gave us notice of the intended protest, I did my own investigation.
“You may also have to talk to your drivers and secretariat staff.
“They are behind this.
“They are not aware you have not paid delegates.
“Some empty chairs here is an indication that some are not being paid.
“Some may have been sent out of their hotels.
“So, as we are not paid.
“So too are your aides who are also complaining.”
Felicia Sani, who represents market women, also expressed dissatisfaction with non-payment of allowances to delegates, saying that the circumstance has forced her to accommodate other representatives of the market women at the conference.
Sanni said: “I have accommodated six of our women from the zones.
“You assembled responsible Nigerians here and you don’t pay them.
“It is wrong.
“This is part of the corruption we are facing in this country.
“It is wrong.
“Tell me where the man keeping the money is, I will go and get it.
“Deputy Chairman, check your house.
“Your staff is complaining too.”
Akinyemi, who moved to quickly end the debate on the issue, informed delegates that even principal officers are yet to be paid for six weeks.
He said it had become necessary for delegates to call their aides and drivers to order so as not to disrupt proceedings of the conference.
He said: “May be I also need to point out that we also have not been paid for the same period.
“Every day, our assistant secretary in charge of finance goes to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation trying to get the releases.
“Documents have to be signed and we are working on it.
“The funds are available but is not yet released.
“We are aware that it has been published that funds are already in a private account.
“Let the media hear it that no money is paid.
“It is still with government.”
Prior to that, the Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, whose bereavement forced an adjournment of conference last Wednesday, thanked the delegates for their solidarity with him at such a moment.
Kutigig said the outpouring of love and concern from delegates, irrespective of religious affiliation, made him re-think submissions about religious conflicts in Nigeria.
