Confab delegates reconvene for final session

After nearly one month of recess, delegates at the national conference have reconvened at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, venue of the conference.

On July 14, 2014, Idris Kuitigi, former chief justice of Nigeria and chairman of the conference, had adjourned plenary to August 4 as the delegates were unable to reach a conclusion on contentious issues such as resource control and beneficiaries of the proposed intervention fund for states under the siege of the Boko Haram sect.

However, the leadership of the conference changed the date of resumption from August 4 to 11 “so as to create time to prepare the reports that each of the 492 delegates is to examine before signing and sending to the president”.

On Monday, the delegates assembled at plenary and were given the reports to study until Wednesday when they are expected to append their signatures.

But the delegates protested, saying that two days were inadequate to study the reports, which are in four volumes and also consist of draft bills, resolutions of the conference and the appendices.

One delegate, Abdullahi Kano, said the documents were more than PHD theses and required enough time.

Similarly, Honourable Dan Nwanyawu, said Wednesday is inappropriate for a thorough assessment of the documents before final signature.

“If we are given till Monday, that is still preferable. Wednesday is too short,” he said.

Kutigi and Bolaji Akinyemi, his vice, were not at plenary during the sitting on Monday.