Delegates to the National Conference on Wednesday reconvened at the
National Judicial Institute in Abuja, venue of the Conference to begin the
process of certifying the draft report prepared by the Conference
Secretariat.
Each delegate arrived the Conference hall armed with huge files of the
resolutions captured in two volumes and another volume containing proposed
alterations to the 1999 Constitution as adopted by the Conference.
However, the sitting lasted for just a few minutes as the leadership of
the Conference, led by the Chairman and retired Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, GCON, announced plans for accelerated handling
of final approval of the draft resolutions.
The Chairman, flanked by his deputy, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, the
Conference Secretary, Dr (Mrs) Valerie-Jenete Azinge and the other three
principal officers, delightfully welcomed the delegates back to the
Conference.
He apologized for the postponement of resumption from August 4 to August
11; explaining that it was due to the enormous work that needed to be done
to ensure the completion of the draft resolutions.
Justice Kutugi reassured delegates of the inviolability of the draft
resolutions; adding: “If there are any errors, they are human errors and
not an attempt by the leadership to any play game”
He further stated that the draft reports of the Conference prepared by the
Secretariat were done “to the best of our ability and with all honesty and
diligence.”
However, he said as humans, there could be noticeable errors that would be
corrected if brought to the attention of the secretariat; “any mistake is
due to human error and can be corrected.”
The chairman said in line with the resolution of the Conference, the
reports were prepared to cover constitutional issues based on amendments
agreed upon by the delegates; policy issues meant for implementation by
the President; and legislative issues earmarked for enactment into laws by
the National Assembly.
Justice Kutigi explained that the copy labeled “draft constitution”
contained the various alterations and amendments to the 1999 Constitution
“proposed by you.”
After the brief address, delegates applauded the chairman, signifying
their agreement with his explanation and readiness to discuss and approve
the draft reports.
Justice Kutigi immediately went ahead to spell out the procedure to be
adopted by the Conference for consideration and approval of the different
reports.
He said after considering several options towards resolving issues
emanating from the reports within the shortest possible time and without
problems, the leadership came to the conclusion that the smooth but
detailed method adopted in handling committees’ reports should be applied.
He said all groups and individuals should study the report and diligently
write out areas that need to be corrected and submit them to the
Conference Secretariat for compilation and presentation to the Conference
when delegates reconvene on Thursday.
The Chairman said when such comments are compiled, they would be read out
on the floor and would either be adopted or rejected by the Conference in
plenary for final adoption of the report.
To further enhance and smoothen the process of approving the draft report
prepared by the Secretariat, the Chairman summoned a meeting of leaders of
delegation from the geo-political zones to discuss certain critical
issues.
Both proposals were unanimously accepted by the Conference in plenary
without any objection while delegates agreed to meet again on Thursday to
practically begin the process of approving the reports.
Before adjourning the session, Justice Kutigi announced the presence of a
new delegate, Supo Shonibare, who replaced Olaniwun Ajayi from the South
West; and the death of Professor Mohammed Nur Alkali.
During separate meetings with the leaders of the northern and southern
delegation, the Conference management was severally commended for
producing a magnificent report within a short space of them.