…As they reconvene on Monday
*Opponents are enemies of Nigeria – Jonathan’s aide
For several delegates to the National Conference, the full implication of their assignments will dawn on them from Monday, when they reconvene in Abuja. Those with vaulting expectations, for example, are likely to be shocked by what lies ahead in the next three months.
It would be so because some of their hopes and expectations, according to Saturday Newswatch findings, would be dashed. Indeed, majority of the delegates, especially those that lobbied to be included for pecuniary reasons, are likely to be shocked beyond words when the reality of the conditions hits them next week.
Contrary to the belief that each of them would be paid a hefty N12 million upfront to cover the three months period, Saturday Newswatch investigations revealed that some may have their accounts credited with only a fraction of that amount. In other words, nobody will be paid for work not done.
It was gathered that the Federal Government directed that only accommodation allowance should be paid across board to all the delegates.
Although the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the leadership of the conference are said to be working on the appropriate honorarium due each delegate per night and payment schedule, Saturday Newswatch learnt that the officials are still considering between N50,000 and N100,000 per night.
The amount, according to sources, would, however, not be paid in bulk. Rather, delegates’ account would be credited every two weeks.
On the day they were inaugurated, the delegates were reportedly directed to furnish the conference Secretariat with their banking details, thus fuelling speculations that they may soon get bank alerts for N12 million. It never came, as the Presidency and the confab leadership were reportedly still sourcing funds for the event. For some, that was the first disappointment. They had hoped to return to their respective locations with millions of naira after just a few days in Abuja, which would have signalled the naira rain to come.
Two other payment sub-heads: transportation and sitting allowance – are said to be conditional, it was also learnt.
A properly monitored attendance register would be opened for delegates, and that would form the basis for the payment of allowances.
“Whoever fails to attend sittings, definitely, is not entitled to the day’s allowance and of course, since he or she did not come, payment of transport allowance would be unnecessary,” a source at the Presidency claimed last night.
Saturday Newswatch further learnt that some delegates are already murmuring, protesting why they would be regimented like secondary school students.
“So you can see that some delegates who thought they were in Abuja to collect money without doing the assignment they were selected to do are already complaining. You see why Nigeria is where it is today? People do not like to work; they are only interested in sharing money; national cake,” lamented a senior civil servant in Abuja.
As at Thursday, about 370 delegates had been accredited.
Dr. Valeria Azinge, Secretary to the Confab, who confirmed the accreditation figure, said delegates had been reporting in trickles.
It was gathered that government decided to monetize accommodation of delegates to avoid a repeat of past experiences when several millions were squandered on food, booze, frivolities and laundry for guests of the government.
“Some of them that only stay in Abuja for sitting between Monday and Thursday will put their girlfriends in the hotel room, order for expensive drinks and food in the belief that since it is government money, they are at liberty to spend lavishly. With this arrangement, let us see how they will do that this time around,” the source, who did not want to be identified, stressed.
But this, perhaps, is the least worry of some of the delegates, particularly those that cannot do without aides. Although a few of the traditional rulers and elder statesmen in the confab have houses in the Federal Capital Territory, majority are not disposed to squatting with either fellow traditional rulers, subjects or friends in Abuja, where accommodation is a huge challenge.
In addition, maintaining their large retinue of aides including drivers, palace guards, police orderlies, cooks and Personal Assistants, which they are hoping that the Federal Government would shoulder said a source, will turn out a big shocker for many as they reconvene on Monday.
“Anybody that wants briefcase carriers and personal assistants should pay them from his or her allowances. Why would government encourage profligacy? If you encourage that, some delegates will go and bring everybody from their village and give them all sorts of titles, for government to pay them. That’s not possible this time around,” said a Presidency source.
Same goes for the physically-challenged and very old delegates who need support to be able to navigate their ways in Abuja, as the conference is unlikely to provide anyone with official vehicles.
Abuja, adjudged one of the most expensive cities in Africa, is not likely to be friendly overnight because confab delegates are in town. Some of the delegates, a senior civil servant observed at the weekend, would spend a lot of money on transportation and feeding, in fact far more than they could ever imagine.
The location of the conference venue makes it expedient for delegates to use ‘convinient’ vehicles as their sittings would be from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Unfortunately, even before the conference moved to the National Judicial Institute (NJI), painted commercial taxis were not allowed into the Institute.
Another challenge is about feeding. Fortunately, there are specialized eateries in Abuja that prepare delicacies of different cultural areas of the country, but they do not come cheap. For example, a plate of pounded yam and fisherman’s soup or white soup that may cost N200 or N300 in most parts of the South South region, goes for between N3,000 and N4,500 at some
eateries in Abuja. The situation is the same for special delicacies from other parts of the country. So it goes without saying that delegates from that part of the country, who have a taste for ‘home food’, will be shocked to find out the damage it will cause to their pockets. For such delegates, the conference will cease to be an attraction.
Source: Daily Newswatch
