26th June, 2014
Recently, the leadership of the National Conference currently going on in Nigeria decided to take a drastic action against absentee delegates. As announced by Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, the Vice Chairman of the conference, delegates who absent themselves from sessions would lose their allowances. Akinyemi read the riot act to the delegates, cautioning them to show themselves as the responsible and distinguished persons they are.
The Idris Kutigi-led leadership of the conference expressed resentment to the attitude of some of the delegates and said it was forced on many occasions to wonder why some delegates at the conference were nominated for the exercise in the first place since they were not interested in being part of the deliberations at the conference. While many would just refuse to turn up for sittings, others would attend the sessions only to distract themselves and others around them. For example, one cannot but imagine that an old man whose pre-occupation at the confab should be on major contributions for the improvement of Nigeria, would end up playing computer games while the session is on. Others even annoyingly sleep off throughout the sessions.
It is not known if the delegates and their leadership are aware of the negative opinions many Nigerians have about them, especially concerning the truancy of some of them. The only time the confab chamber had up to 95 percent attendance was during its first two weeks of commencement. Since then, the number of delegates who attend the conference has continued to dwindle that it is now almost the norm to see more empty seats during sessions than necessary. Akinyemi put the figure of absentees at more than half of the number of delegates.
If the leadership of the confab could come out in the open to lambast delegates over absenteeism, then it is unfortunate and disgusting. Akinyemi told them that the Federal Government, which approved their nomination in the first place, was worried at their low turnout.
It is not only the Federal Government that is troubled. Nigerians are angry. They wonder why some delegates should treat an important national assignment with such levity. Many citizens supported the National Conference when it was announced by President Goodluck Jonathan because of the challenges plaguing the nation and the hope that the delegates would come up with solutions. But with the huge amount being spent by the government on the exercise, the questions we are asking are: why should some of the delegates behave in such an irresponsible manner by staying away from participating in deliberations? Why should they expect to get paid for job not done? Can these men later beat their chests to proudly announce that they contributed effectively to the National Conference?
The Conference is already witnessing a crisis of confidence in many ways. Nigerians are confused about the outcome of the exercise. While some want it delivered to the National Assembly for ratification, others think that the outcome of the confab should be subjected to a referendum. Yet, some Nigerians have concluded that the outcome of the exercise might not see the light of day as it would be delivered during the electioneering period.
With these varied opinions from Nigerians, we expect that the delegates should be the ones to restore confidence in the citizens rather than behave in an irresponsible manner. We suggest that apart from making absentee delegates lose their allowances, there should be heavier sanctions. It is better for them to resign and go home than pretend to be part of the conference with nothing to show for their participation.