Plenary will resume on Monday (today) as delegates at the National Conference are expected to deliberate on the report of the Committee on Public Finance and Revenue.
The conference adjourned abruptly on Wednesday following the death of Maryamu, wife of the Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi (retd.).
Before the adjournment, delegates had earlier agreed not to have plenary session on Thursday, May 29, which was declared a public holiday by the Federal Government to celebrate the 2014 Democracy Day.
The plenary upon its resumption on Monday (today), is expected to continue deliberation on more reports of committees and adoption of recommendations contained in the reports.
Before the hurried adjournment of sitting on Wednesday, the conference had indicated its readiness to conduct a debate on the report of the Committee on Public Finance and Revenue headed by Senator Adamu Aliero with Senator Azu Agboti as deputy chairman.
Also expected to be discussed this week were issues arising from previous committee reports that were put in “bracket” by the principal officers of the conference due to objections raised when they came up for consideration.
Such issues include the recommendation by the Committee on Land Tenure and National Boundaries that the Land Use Act be expunged from the constitution for easy amendment of the Act for the benefit of the people.
Some of the delegates were opposed to the recommendation while others applauded it; a situation that forced the presiding officers of the conference to put the issue in “bracket” and appoint some delegates from every section of the country to meet and resolve the impasse.
Another of such issues placed in “bracket” by the presiding officers surfaced on Tuesday during deliberation on the report of the Committee on Religion that recommended the establishment of what it called Religious Equity Commission.
The committee stated that the commission would have the statutory mandate of advocacy, enforcement of constitutional religious rights such as freedom of religion, freedom to acquire land for religious purposes, among others.
While some of the delegates said the National Human Rights Commission should be empowered to handle such issues, others believed the new commission would serve useful purposes.
The committee envisaged the RECOM to serve as a platform that would bring people of the major religions in Nigeria to interact and crystalise ideas that would foster unity and tolerance; as well as monitor, investigate and expose cases of religious discrimination and violation.
The body was also meant to monitor cases of religious extremism – both in ideology and practice – and formulate counter narratives that were balanced and tolerant to neutralise such extremism.
When arguments for and against could not be resolved before close of session on Tuesday, the presiding officers decided to put it in abeyance till the next sitting.
Also put in abeyance was the recommendation by the Committee on Religion for the scrapping of the pilgrims welfare board or its movement to the Foreign Affairs Ministry following the adoption of the recommendation for non-sponsorship of pilgrimages by government at any level.
Some of the delegates were of the view that scrapping the welfare body would hinder preparation for pilgrimages while others believed retaining the board would be counter-productive since government’s non-involvement in pilgrimages had already been resolved and adopted. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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