Natl Conference Fails To Constitute Committees

ANXIETY over principal officials and membership of delegate committees of the ongoing National Conference was heightened yesterday as the conference leadership failed to announce the various committees as promised.  

Chairman of the Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, however, adjourned the proceedings on Monday abruptly to allow the secretariat conclude work on the composition of the committees.

Shortly, after the adoption of the prayers contained in a motion on the Boko Haram attacks, attention of the confab delegates was shifted to the committees whose membership and leadership were expected to be announced.

This was also contained in the order of proceedings for the day.

 However, the chairman apologised that although a lot of work had gone into the compilation of committee membership, there were still some more work to be done before the list would be made public.

 He said in view of that, it was necessary to stand down every issue regarding the committees.

Accordingly, he said the sitting be adjourned until 4 p.m. on Tuesday when he was sure the final compilation would have been done and the membership and leadership of the different committees announced.

Kutigi said: “We thought that today we should be able to give everybody the committee which he will serve and belong. The secretariat, we are sorry, we want to apologise to you that we are still working on the committees. It is not ready as of now.

He added: “But we promise by tomorrow afternoon session, we should be able to give you the committees you belong. So, what we proposed to do is to adjourn now until 4’O’ clock tomorrow to enable the secretariat put finishing touches to the committees. So, somebody should move the adjournment.”

 At the plenary yesterday, it was also agreed that based on suggestions and observations by delegates, committee members should be free to discuss issues that are related to the committees they serve and not limit themselves to areas listed under each committee.

 Chief Olisa Agbakoba SAN, had earlier suggested that only four instead of 20 committees be established and all the members distributed to serve while the time for deliberation and submission of reports should be lengthened.

He was opposed by majority of the members who noted that the 20 committee structure should remain with “any other related matter” added to the mandate of each committee.