10 Billion Naira National Conference under GEJ just got dumped by President Buhari...

[Abystacy]

President Muhammadu Buhari will not implement the report of the 2014 National Conference convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan, The PUNCH has learnt.

 

A top government official confided in our correspondent on Tuesday that Buhari was not favourably disposed to the implementation of the report despite the fact that Jonathan handed over the document to him alongside his (Jonathan’s) handover note.

 

Jonathan had, during his handover ceremony on May 28, told Buhari that the confab report was more important than his handover note.

 

Shortly before he left office, the former President had forwarded the report to the National Assembly for action.

 

But the Presidency source told one of our correspondents that Buhari would not implement it because he never believed in the conference.

 

Rather, he said the President would stick to the recommendations of his transition committee led by Ahmed Joda.

 

The source also recalled that the ruling All Progressives Congress which was in opposition during Jonathan’s administration did not take part in the conference despite the fact that its leadership was formally asked to send representatives.

 

He said, “President Buhari never believed in the National Conference. His position is not different from that of his party, the APC, which snubbed the invitation to send representatives to the confab.

 

“The conference and its report are Jonathan’s babies and you won’t expect this administration to implement the report, especially in this era that all we have been doing is to try and clear the rot left behind by the same administration.

 

“The President had not even at any time made any reference to the report. It is not on his agenda.”

 

Jonathan, had during his different meetings with traditional rulers from the South-West ahead of the March 28 presidential election, promised to ensure the implementation of the conference’s report if re-elected.

 

He had argued that since the APC refused to take part in the conference, a government formed by the party would not implement the report.

 

Apparently confirming Jonathan’s position, Buhari had also at a time taken a swipe at the Federal Government over the conference, saying that billions of naira was spent on it.

 

The Federal Executive Council led by Jonathan had on March 18 approved the report of the conference led by Justice Idris Kutigi.

 

The then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, had told reporters that the approval was the first leg of the steps aimed at implementing the conference report.

 

Anyim had said recommendations and resolutions that require constitutional amendment and enactment of new laws would be forwarded to the National Assembly.

 

He added that agencies’ policy matters in the report shall be referred to the affected agencies and the tier of government concerned – whether federal, state or local governments, for action.

 

Anyim said while the process leading to the implementation of the report might not end during the Jonathan administration’s tenure, a bold step forward had been taken with the approval.

 

The National Conference recommended that anybody aspiring to become the country’s President must be a degree holder, among other recommendations.

 

When contacted, Buhari’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina, said he has no information on the matter.

 

He said, ‘‘The President will do what is in the best interest of Nigerians.’’

 

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said, “Like I said before, we will look at the document and any area that is beneficial to Nigeria and Nigerians will be considered.”

 

But some delegates to the 2014 National Conference have called on Buhari not to dump the report of the confab and its recommendations.

 

A delegate, who is the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Sola Ebiseni, and the National Publicity Secretary of a pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who represented the South- West, argued that restructuring was imperative.

 

 

What's your take on the subject. ..

 

 

 

Personally, I never supported that Conference in the first place. But it happened. And there are obviously some sensible items in the whole Report...

For the sake modesty, President Buhari would have put sentiments aside and give the sensible items in that Report some shots---at least take the pains to review them and possibly implement the those he could make sense out of...

Dumping the whole Report is not just a waste of resources.... Nigeria resources---my money. Our money!

It shows a lack of responsibility and personal egocentrism on the side of Mr president!

-----it's wrong! Very wrong!

[Iris]

There has to be at least one or two goals in the report that calls for implementation and l believe action will be taken by government when the time is right. Note: Time must be right. Priorities have been set and they're instructive. That's the path government will follow not Confab report. l say this because with or without Confab, we'll never loose our knowledge.

 

Pls, it is very pertinent to note that it isn't the delay in implementation that's a waste of your money but the 'N10b' spent on delegates' salaries, sitting allowances, food and refreshment, local and international travel...bla bla like that. This already is a colossal loss upon the nation and a sad sad waste of opportunity cost as well. ln business, you spend money to gain not to loose.

 

Expenditure in that sum (N10b) exceeds revenue greatly (I'm not talking total govt revenue) and we know what it means when expenditure bosses out revenue. It can be likened to a Startup Company that is confused about what to produce, who its customers are and how to make money, yet it wants to make money!

 

We know by now the implementation will never be sufficient as an alternative to make up for the N10b depleted with impunity on mere meetings and consultations in just 4 months! This kind of foolishness by 'govt' is so disgusting, l never want to talk about it again.

[Abystacy]

This is exactly what I termed * THE NIGERIA EXPERIMENT VS THE PROJECT PMB.

 

I used to be romantic about the Nigerian project. I still hope for national integration that would look back at today and wonder at how we have survived the regional disharmony with the tribal hatred that divides us as one nation of black people. However, we can't hide the serious imbalance in wealth distribution in the country why some sections are bent on retaining the current arrangement which has failed us as a nation, but has profited a few. My take on the Nigerian Project does not reflect on how I relate with individuals. I relate with every nigerian as a nigerian inspite of the chasmial boiling and deep-seated cognitive xenophobic hatred we have inherited from I-don't-know-where.

 

I can't ignore that the present arrangement in the PN (Project Nigeria) clearly favors a section of the country, and that section will not accept reforms it perceives will rob her of the present advantages. This arrangement has held other regions backward. So one cannot wander far to comprehend the rationale behind the current government' decision to dump the half-baked 10 billion naira Confab Report. Truth be told that the the confab was partially rushed and, or unnecessary given to the critical stage we are as nation, and the poor philosophy enmeshed in the political higledy-pigledy that introduced that project... The bailing out of states for example when we should be asking about the viability of a state to sustain itself before its creation.. If a state cannot generate funds to cater for its beaurocracy to a certain degree outside of the federal allocations, then that state is not economically viable to exist! Forget about geographical distribution. And part of the recommendations of the conference was merging of non performing states and possible creation of new ones out of the existing ones- the duplication of structures is a serious waste. How will they keep bailing out failing states? What happens when oil dries up and we have nothing to bail them with?

 

My fear with PMB is that he is losing the moment, time is of the essence. My teachers thought me that if you wait to prepare for exams only on the exam day,then you have failed already. Soon the justling for 2019 will start, he will lose his political capital. Ambition is unlimited in the Nigerian political terrain. Time is a bitch that caters to no one. Our economy is unraveling. Cost of local food items that was going down under the previous administration is now rising. As it seems now, policy direction won't be clear until next year when the ministers would have settled down after September. So this political year is already gone, we hope it's worth it. Anyway they say its still too early to determine what direction... hope he agreed to restore the oil licenses of the American companies revoked by GEJ or his government will be railroaded too. He must know that the present arrangement in the country is the problem, we must practise true fiscal federalism, that is the number one corruption in the country.