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CONFAB: Delegates Divided Over CONFAB's Outcome

Published

10 years ago

July 22, 2014

Ahead of the August 4 re-convening of the National Conference following its abrupt adjournment last Monday, some stakeholders are divided over the outcome of the talk shop.
The plenary of the Justice Idris Kutigi-led National Conference ended in deadlock over resource control and proposed intervention fund for states facing security challenges.
The conference adopted the report of the Committee on Devolution of Power, but without conclusive decision on the vital issue of derivation principle.
Following the logjam, the conference referred the problems to President Goodluck Jonathan and urged him to set up a Technical Committee that would advise the Federal Government on revenue sharing formula, the percentage of derivation to oil producing states, mineral resources development fund and special fund for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas affected by problems of insurgency and internal conflict.
Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries, yesterday, hailed the Chairman of the conference, Justice Kutigi, the leadership and delegates over what they described as the success of the conference which final report is expected in less than two weeks.
However, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said: “We said it that it was tailored to fail and we were called nay sayers; seven billion Naira has gone down the drain.”
Adamawa State governorship aspirant and PDP stakeholder, Dr. Umar Ardo said: “The fact that the confab failed to resolve the most contentious national issue, which is the issue of derivation/resource control, is indicative that it has not fully succeeded.”