Conference Adopts 70 percent Voting Option, Says N7 Billion Budget Not Enough

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Delegates at the ongoing National Conference on Monday resolved its week long disagreement over voting formula as it endorsed the proposal of its 50man consensus group which put the voting requirement for conference to arrive at decision at 70percent majority.

 

The resolution came even as the Conference said the N7 billion budgeted for its operation might not be enough to conduct the exercise scheduled to last 3months.

 

At the resumed plenary of the conference Monday, the Deputy Chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi, presented the report of the consultative meeting to the house.

Briefing the conference, Prof. Akinyemi said, the committee met on the 25th and 26th March, 2014 in a cordial atmosphere.

 

“Deliberations during these meetings were cordial. Delegates worked in harmony to develop and put into effective use, the spirit of consensus building with the national interest at heart,” Akinyemi said.

Adding that, “at the conclusion of deliberations, members reached a decision to amend Order VI Paragraph 4, XI paragraph 2 and XII paragraph 4 (e) as follows:

“In the case of failure to reach consensus, the matter shall be decided by majority vote of 70 per cent of delegates present and voting. That is the recommendation which that committee is bringing to you, distinguished delegates,” he said.

At the end of his presentation, Prof. Akinyemi’s call for discussions of the report was greeted with reactions by delegates who called for a motion on the recommendation of the consensus group.
The adoption followed a motion by Iyorchia Ayu, representing the Former Senators Forum which was seconded by former Akwa Ibom Governor, Victor Attah, representing the Former Governors’ Forum.

Following the seeming unanimous support, Mr. Ayu moved for the adoption of the motion and was seconded by Mr. Attah.

“I congratulate the committee for avoiding the impression of a winner and a loser in this matter. I think we are getting to the point where we are making progress,” Mr. Akinyemi said.

The motion was then put to voice vote with the delegates overwhelmingly chorusing “ayes”.

Consequently, the vice-chairman ruled in favour of the motion to adopt 70 per cent majority as the voting mode for the conference.

Similarly, the knotty issue of appointment of chairmen for standing committees was amicably resolved as delegates also agreed that the various committees should choose their chairmen and secretaries.

The Draft Rule had proposed that the Chairman of the conference, in consultation with the Vice-chairman and Secretary, should choose the committees’ chairmen and secretaries.
By Olusegun Emmanuel, Abuja.

During the deliberation on the work plan on Monday, Secretary of the Conference, Dr. Valerie-Janette Azinge had earlier said that the Conference committee met and discussed on how to rent more halls for use outside the location of the conference.

However, the Deputy Chairman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi put the record straight when he disclosed there was the need to approach government for more funds in order to rent more halls so that the committees can do their work effectively.

Also speaking, Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi reminded delegates that  has the power to walk out any delegate who fails to comport himself at this conference.

It could be recalled that Proceedings at the conference were stalled last week as delegates failed to reach consensus on whether or not to adopt 66 per cent (two-third) or 75 per cent majority as the voting mode on decisions taken at the conference.