Delegates to the National Conference on Wednesday reconvened at the
\nNational Judicial Institute in Abuja, venue of the Conference to begin the
\nprocess of certifying the draft report prepared by the Conference
\nSecretariat.<\/p>\n
Each delegate arrived the Conference hall armed with huge files of the
\nresolutions captured in two volumes and another volume containing proposed
\nalterations to the 1999 Constitution as adopted by the Conference.<\/p>\n
However, the sitting lasted for just a few minutes as the leadership of
\nthe Conference, led by the Chairman and retired Chief Justice of Nigeria,
\nJustice Idris Legbo Kutigi, GCON, announced plans for accelerated handling
\nof final approval of the draft resolutions.<\/p>\n
The Chairman, flanked by his deputy, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, the
\nConference Secretary, Dr (Mrs) Valerie-Jenete Azinge and the other three
\nprincipal officers, delightfully welcomed the delegates back to the
\nConference.<\/p>\n
He apologized for the postponement of resumption from August 4 to August
\n11; explaining that it was due to the enormous work that needed to be done
\nto ensure the completion of the draft resolutions.<\/p>\n
Justice Kutugi reassured delegates of the inviolability of the draft
\nresolutions; adding: \u201cIf there are any errors, they are human errors and
\nnot an attempt by the leadership to any play game\u201d<\/p>\n
He further stated that the draft reports of the Conference prepared by the
\nSecretariat were done \u201cto the best of our ability and with all honesty and
\ndiligence.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, he said as humans, there could be noticeable errors that would be
\ncorrected if brought to the attention of the secretariat; \u201cany mistake is
\ndue to human error and can be corrected.\u201d<\/p>\n
The chairman said in line with the resolution of the Conference, the
\nreports were prepared to cover constitutional issues based on amendments
\nagreed upon by the delegates; policy issues meant for implementation by
\nthe President; and legislative issues earmarked for enactment into laws by
\nthe National Assembly.<\/p>\n
Justice Kutigi explained that the copy labeled \u201cdraft constitution\u201d
\ncontained the various alterations and amendments to the 1999 Constitution
\n\u201cproposed by you.\u201d
\nAfter the brief address, delegates applauded the chairman, signifying
\ntheir agreement with his explanation and readiness to discuss and approve
\nthe draft reports.<\/p>\n
Justice Kutigi immediately went ahead to spell out the procedure to be
\nadopted by the Conference for consideration and approval of the different
\nreports.<\/p>\n
He said after considering several options towards resolving issues
\nemanating from the reports within the shortest possible time and without
\nproblems, the leadership came to the conclusion that the smooth but
\ndetailed method adopted in handling committees\u2019 reports should be applied.<\/p>\n
He said all groups and individuals should study the report and diligently
\nwrite out areas that need to be corrected and submit them to the
\nConference Secretariat for compilation and presentation to the Conference
\nwhen delegates reconvene on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Chairman said when such comments are compiled, they would be read out
\non the floor and would either be adopted or rejected by the Conference in
\nplenary for final adoption of the report.<\/p>\n
To further enhance and smoothen the process of approving the draft report
\nprepared by the Secretariat, the Chairman summoned a meeting of leaders of
\ndelegation from the geo-political zones to discuss certain critical
\nissues.<\/p>\n
Both proposals were unanimously accepted by the Conference in plenary
\nwithout any objection while delegates agreed to meet again on Thursday to
\npractically begin the process of approving the reports.<\/p>\n
Before adjourning the session, Justice Kutigi announced the presence of a
\nnew delegate, Supo Shonibare, who replaced Olaniwun Ajayi from the South
\nWest; and the death of Professor Mohammed Nur Alkali.<\/p>\n
During separate meetings with the leaders of the northern and southern
\ndelegation, the Conference management was severally commended for
\nproducing a magnificent report within a short space of them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/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":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n