Another rowdy session would have taken place at the national conference on May 28 but for the death, same day, of Mariam Kutigi, wife of conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi.
Justice Legbo Kutigi
Religion and other tetchy issues threatened to divide the confab.
The greatest concern of the conference secretariat, however, is how to pacify delegates over unpaid allowances which have accumulated for five weeks.
Each delegate is entitled to N1.46 million per week, but the secretariat staff have allegedly breached the agreement to pay the allowances two weeks in advance and instead pay in arrears.
TheNiche published the story on May 25 that the money is allegedly being paid into a fixed deposit account in a bank owned by the son of one of the conference leaders.
Assistant Secretary (Media and Publications), Akpandem James, denied that the delay in payment is caused by secretariat, saying the staff do not handle money as transactions are done electronically.
“If you know the rules of procedures of this conference, then you will dismiss what they are saying as rumours and fabrications. Nobody among the conference officials touches money.”
James said those who handle money in the conference were seconded from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Another source in the confab secretariat told TheNiche that delegates have been paid one month’s allowance.
However, it was learnt that a day after the story broke the conference leadership convened a meeting to deliberate on why the allowances have not been paid four weeks running.
A source who attended the meeting said neither the conference leadership nor the office of the SGF could explain the delay.
The blame game shifted to the Ministry of Finance, with the allegation that Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, did not approve the voucher.
A delegate with civil society background said the delay reinforces the suspicion that Abuja is upset because delegates are not keen on the idea of a single six-year presidential term the Villa floated.
“The reason for this failure to pay our allowances cannot be far fetched. The Presidency may have decided to apply the arm twisting approach since it is no longer sure that the conference will do its bidding,” the source said.
He added that the non payment may be connected with the frustration in the Presidency that the conference, judging by the way it is going, will not rubber stamp a six-year term.
Another delegate, who did not want his name in print, disclosed that the non payment is taking a great toll on delegates, the majority of whom live outside Abuja.
This has made life almost unbearable, he confirmed.
A delegate from the South South told TheNiche that he had to cancel his plan to travel last weekend because he did not have money.
The financial hardship has led to a high rate of absenteeism at plenary.
Proceedings at plenary on May 27 nearly ended in a free for all over the issue of religion between Northern and Southern delegates.
Sensing what would have amounted to a national embarrassment, confab Deputy Chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi, adjourned the session till the following morning. But the death of Kuti’s wife prevented reconvention and plenary was adjourned to tomorrow June 2.
Delegates had agreed to reject the recommendation of the Religion Committee that the government should set up a Religious Equity Commission. They also agreed that all levels of government should hands off the funding of pilgrimage to Israel or Saudi Arabia.
Trouble started when a delegate from Kogi State, Sola Akomode, moved a motion for the scrapping of Pilgrims Welfare Boards for Christians and Muslims.
The motion was seconded by Edo State delegate, Charles Edosomwan, but a counter motion was tabled by Charles Ibiang, supported by Saidu Dansadau.
When the issue was put to question, the majority, through a voice vote, appeared to have supported Akomode’s motion.
That, however, resulted in confusion that almost degenerated into fisticuffs.
Many delegates have also complained against the way the leadership handles other delicate issues.
One of them, Daniel Aluko, expressed displeasure that although the committee report on the Land Use Act recommended expunging it from the Constitution, the conference leadership deferred decision on it.
