The National Conference has been extended by four weeks, The Eagle Online can confirm.
The extension came to light on Thursday.
An initial report about two weeks ago that the conference had been extended was denied by the leadership of the confab.
Then, the news was that the extension was for six weeks.
The confab was initially scheduled to last for three months.
The conference on Wednesday began debate on the reports of its twenty standing committees.
The Chairman of the conference, retired Justice Idris Kutigi, confirmed the development on Thursday.
Kutigi said that the leadership of the conference had requested for six weeks extension but an approval of four weeks was granted.
He said: “After our sitting yesterday (Wednesday), we visited the Secretary to the Government of Federation and we were informed that the government only granted us four weeks extension.
“We have asked for six but we were given only four weeks.
“In that regard, we have to get our programmes tight up because I think the conference will now end on July 31.
“Due to the time factor, the conference management feels we should request from the delegates whether you are prepared to put in extra sitting hours on Fridays and Saturdays?
“I know you did a lot during the committee stage.
“Now is the final stage.
“We also need the same sacrifices from you.
“We are requesting for additional sittings on Fridays and Saturdays.”
The request was unanimously rejected by the delegates, with some suggesting other ways to fast track the conference decisions and gain more time for deliberations.
Dr. Bello Muhammed, representing Kebbi State, said there was no need for an extension in the sitting time if the conference could come up with a right procedure in deliberating and adopting various committees’ recommendations.
Esther Gonda, representing Plateau State, suggested that the two hours alloted for lunch should be reduced to one, “because I have observed that some of us finish eating by 3pm.”
Chief Mike Ozekhome, an addendum delegate, who also agreed that the time for lunch should be reduced, suggested that the time allotted to each delegate to speak on a matter should be reduced to three minutes.
“We should also sit by 9am instead of 10am, which is the normal time parliamentarians and courts sit across the world,” Ozekomeh said.
After various suggestions by the delegates, the conference agreed to be resuming sitting by 9am from Mondays to Thursdays.
Kutigi, however, said that the 9am sitting agreement would commence on Monday.
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