Some delegates at the ongoing National Conference have said contrary to reports, the Federal Government may not pay the attendees the sum of N12m as allowance.
They also said none of them had been paid the money.
Each of the 492 delegates was to be paid N4m each per month for the three-month conference. The allowance was to cover accommodation, transportation, etc.
The confab, which began on March 17, 2014, has entered the fifth week.
Speaking to our correspondent on Friday, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, said contrary to reports, each delegate might not receive N12m at the end of the exercise.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria added that the conference secretariat had not issued any information on the allowance to delegates.
Falana said, “Up till now, neither the Federal Government nor the conference secretariat has given us any information on the allowance. I have, however, confirmed that no delegate will be paid N12m, as the costs of conference materials, lunch and other logistics will be deducted from source.
“I shall make further enquiries on the matter until the actual amount is disclosed. But, whatever amount that is paid to me will be turned over to the needy.”
Also, a former National Publicity Secretary of the apex body of northern Nigeria, the Arewa Consultative Forum, Mr. Anthony Sani, said while he was not aware of any deductions, the N12m allowance had not been mentioned on the floor of the conference by the secretariat.
He said, “What was announced to the delegates at the confab was that the allowances payable to the delegates were transportation and sitting allowances of four days per week and accommodation.
“There are no allowances for aides because the government has made no provisions for such. Also, no mention was made of N12m per delegate for the three months, and nobody talked of conference materials.” Meanwhile indications have emerged there will be “tension” as the ongoing national conference constitutes principal officers next week.
A delegate from the South-West zone, who pleaded anonymity, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the most contentious issue would be who should constitute the principal officers of the committees.
He said “Leadership of committees that will be constituted by the principal officers could generate tension next week.”
The organised labour movement and civil society organisations are opposing the decision of the confab leadership to prevent delegates from appointing principal officers of committees.
They had, therefore, demanded “the restoration of the original decision of the plenary session that committees should choose their leaders”.
This development is coming barely a day after the CSOs, led by a legal practitioner, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), protested the reversal of the decision on the appointment of principal officers.
Source: Punch
