The National Conference on Thursday in Abuja adopted the amended report of
\nits Public Service Committee presented to the plenary on Tuesday by its
\nChairman, Mrs Ebele Okeke.
\nThe conference also rejected an amended recommendation for an upward
\nreview of the National Minimum Wage from N18,000 to at least N40,000.
\nThe conference also banned government-funded ministries, departments and
\nagencies from collecting application fees from graduates seeking
\nemployment into such establishments.
\nFurthermore, it accepted the proposal for the setting up of recruitment
\ncentres in the states. After taking into cognisance the unfortunate
\nstampede during the Immigration recruitment exercise.
\nThe conference adopted a motion which called for the amendment of the
\nFederal Character Commission (FCC) to be called \u201cFederal Character and
\nEqual Opportunities Commission\u201d and its extension to states.
\nThe acceptance of the proposal, which generated serious opposition from
\nsome delegates, came after a sponsored motion by 33 delegates, which was
\nread on their behalf by Dr Nurudeen Lemu.
\n\u201cThis motion seeks an amendment to the recommendation of the Conference
\nCommittee on Public Service proposal to retain Federal Character
\nCommission and its extension to states.
\n\u201cWe are recommending that the commission be upgraded to address issues of
\nequity and equal opportunities in order to take care of other key sectors
\nand groups in the society.
\n\u201cThat the law establishing the commission be reviewed to reflect the above
\nproposal and thereby renamed as Federal Character and Equal Opportunities
\nCommission.
\n\u201cThis will enable the commission to affirm the issue of affirmatives
\naction for the people living with disabilities and other vulnerable
\ngroups.
\n\u201cIt will also address issues relating to ethnic, religion, minority,
\nwomen, youths and other sections of the society that are often excluded,\u2019\u2019
\nthe motion stated.
\nThe conference also called on the National Assembly to domesticate the
\nInternational Labour Organisation (ILO) convention.
\nIt was agreed that government at all levels should add allowances
\nequivalent to Salary Grade Level 06 to the pay of each of the Persons
\nLiving with Disabilities.
\nThis, the committee said, would enable them employ aides.
\nThe conference also adopted the committee\u2019s recommendation that government
\nat all levels should make public offices disabilities-friendly by
\nproviding special access facilities in line with international charters
\nand treaties.
\nThe committee\u2019s suggestion that no political appointee at all levels be
\nemployed as special advisers, special assistants, and personal assistants
\nhenceforth was adopted.
\nInstead it was agreed that, as a cost-saving measure, such political
\noffice-holder should utilise staff of ministries where it becomes
\nnecessary.
\nThe committee said this should be applied as it is contained in Circular
\nReference Number B63883\/73 of Jan. 3, 2000.
\nFollowing the adoption of the committee\u2019s report, the conference commenced
\ndebate on the report of Committee on Science, Technology and
\nDevelopment.(NAN)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The National Conference on Thursday in Abuja adopted the amended report of its Public Service Committee presented to the plenary on Tuesday by its Chairman, Mrs Ebele Okeke. The conference…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25711,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n