Breaking News: Confab gets four-week extension

Justice Idris Kutigi

Justice Idris Kutigi: Confab chairman

Justice Idris Kutigi, the Chairman of National Conference announced on Thursday morning that the Federal Government has agreed to extend the lifespan of the ongoing national conference by four weeks.

Justice Kutigi informed the delegates that the leadership of the Conference met with the Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim on Wednesday night to ask for a six week extension.

He however said government approved only four weeks extension for the Conference. President Goodluck Jonathan had inaugurated the National Conference which was expected to have a three months tenure on 17 March.

To fast track the its work, delegates to the National Conference also agreed to start resuming by 9 am on Monday, one hour earlier than the 10 a.m fixed for resumption before now.

Meanwhile, an attempt by a delegate from Niger Delta, Ms. Ankio Briggs to force the National Conference to devolve more powers to states on the issue of policing and resource control was shot down this morning as other members voted to reject her 13 page minority report on the issue.

Ms. Briggs was a member of Committee on Devolution of Power co-chaired by a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victo Attah, and a former Inspector General of Police and Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Ibrahim Coomassie.

Contrary to the demands of the people of Niger Delta, the Committee had in its report retained the control of mineral resources in the Exclusive Legislative List, but recommended that the state could be allowed to participate exploratory activities while also retaining the 13 per cent derivation fund to oil producing states.

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The Committee of National Security chaired by a former Inspector General of Police, Gambo Jimeta, had also rejected the call that states should be allowed to establish their own police force.

But Ms. Briggs had in the minority report which she attempted to submit to the National Conference this morning argued that the power to control mineral resources should be devolved to the states which, according to her, are in the best position to tackle the environmental fall out of their exploitation.

She also called for the creation of a Development Fund for oil producing Communities and that the new increase of derivation fund from mineral resources to 50 per cent and the creation of state police to tackle the myriad of security challenges confronting the country.

States’ owned police, she argued should be allowed to operate in cooperation and coordination with the federal police.
Briggs attempt to present her minority report after the Committee on Devolution of Power just laid their report through the co-chairmen, Victor Attah and Ibrahim Coomasie was opposed by the other delegates.

A member of Devolution of Power Committee, Alhaji Bello Haliru argued that the rules of the Confab does not allow for minority report. Decisions can only be reached by consensus or 70 per cent majority.

Festus Okoye, a delegate argued that allowing one member of a 30 man Committee to present a minority report may result in more of such reports.

After a heated debate among delegates, Justice Kutigi ruled that the rules of the confab do not allow for submission of minority reports.

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