The Federal Government has extended the duration of the National Conference by six weeks. Under the new arrangement, the conference will now end on July 31 instead of the earlier June 19 when the discussion had been programmed to last.
Before the extension, some delegates had advocated that the three-month period allotted was not enough. But it was not clear whether additional budgetary allocation would be made in order to finance the extension.
A new work plan released on Wednesday in Abuja by the leadership of the conference said that the confab had been adjusted following inputs from its leadership.
In the Work Plan, Monday July 21 to Thursday, 24 July has been devoted to consideration of draft report of the conference.
Also, Week 20 (Monday Juky 28 to Thursday, July 31, will be for production and signing of the final report.
Although, no reason was given for the extension, some delegates hinted that “we still have a lot of areas uncovered.”
Those who were against extending the conference had feared that extension of the conference was likely to consume part of the time earmarked for the preparation for the 2015 general elections.
A delegate from the Niger-Delta, Annkio Briggs, confirmed the extension saying it was needed in order to give members additional time to debate burning national issues.
“We need more time to address all the issues that brought us to this Conference. We have been saying that the time was not going to be enough. I am sure the Conference Secretariat made a case and the Federal Government in their wisdom decided to extend the date,” Briggs said.
Reacting to the extension, a delegate representing the South-West, Ajibola Ogunshola, noted that the four weeks were proposed for drafting of the report and advised that no delegates should be paid for the four weeks designed for the drafting the report since it is only the secretariat that will be involved.
“I have observed that four weeks of the proposed extension is for drafting of conference report which is from June 16 to July 14.
“June 16 to July 14 is for drafting of the conference report. During that period, there should be no payment to delegates since it is the secretariat that will be involved in the drafting of the report,” Ogunsola said.
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