National Conference: Jonathan shops for chairman

President Goodluck Jonathan is shopping for the chairman, deputy chairman and secretary of the planned National Conference as preparation for the talks heightens.

Delegates can also expect mouth watering allowances, The Nation gathered yesterday.

Some forces in the presidency are understood to be pushing for the appointment of a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria or a retired judge of any of the courts in the land to head the conference.

A top government source said that whoever would preside over the conference would be a person of “unimpeachable character.”

Sources also suggested that the president was under pressure to slash the allowances of the 492 delegates following revelations that each of them might return home with as much as N12.195 million at the end of the three-month conference.

Five names are said to be on the list of those being considered by the president as chairman of the conference and a source said that the president is keen to appoint a chairman who will appeal to all Nigerians.

Said the source, “We know that some people are making a strong case for a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, or a retired judge as the chairman of the conference. Others are calling for tested constitutional lawyers or bureaucrats.

“The president is being careful in nominating any Nigerian with political leaning to avoid the conference starting on a controversial note.

“The good thing is that Nigeria is not short of men of integrity; it is left to Nigerians to appreciate them.”

The source explained that the president would appoint the chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary of the conference.

He added: “So far, the North is pushing for the chairmanship of the conference going by the precedent that past conferences were mostly chaired by the South.

“Some have also emphasised the need for the South-West to retain the chairmanship slot in view of the ‘rancour-free job that Senator Femi Okunrounmu’s Committee has done.

“I think as soon as the president is done with the reconstitution of the cabinet, the structure of those who will manage the conference will emerge.”

It was also gathered that the president might cut the budget for the conference because the projected number of delegates had been reduced.

The federal government had voted N7 Billion for the conference based on the initial delegates of about 571.

Following the unwieldy number of delegates, the president reduced it to 492.

It was learnt that the budget may be reduced to either N6billion or N5billion.

Also, there were concerns that each of the 492 delegates may earn as much as either N12, 195, 121.95 951, 219 or N10, 162,601.62 for three months if N6billion or N5billion is voted for their allowances.

At the rate of N5billion, each delegate may earn N112, 917.79 per day.

If N6billion is budgeted for the allowances of the delegates, each of them may be paid N135, 501.35 per day.

A source said: “I think the president may reduce the budget because what was put in the 2014 Appropriation was based on about 571 to 572 Delegates before the President pruned it to 492 Delegates.

“All I can tell you is that the delegates will be paid only allowances per day to cater for their needs in Abuja. It is too early to assume how much of the N7Billion budget will be voted for the allowances of the delegates.

“The details are being worked out. And as soon as the principal officers of the conference are in place, things will take shape.

“What we are proposing is to ensure that the National Conference has its own secretariat different from government bureaucracy.”

On the nomination of delegates, the source said: “Consultations are still in progress. And for those to be nominated by the president, the presidency is tidying up this end.”

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Linkedin
• Pinterest

Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday


Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users

You Might Also Like

« PREV

NEXT »