Nigeria's National Conference starts today in Abuja.
The National Conference kicks off on Monday at 4pm at the National Judiciary Institute (NJI) in Abuja. |
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Goodluck Jonathan
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492 delegates representing various the ethnic nationalities, professional bodies, and political and civil society groups are expected to participate. The conference is chaired by retired Justice Idris Kutigi.
The confab that will last for three months and cost around N7bn ($42mln) is meant to provide a platform for Nigerians to discuss issues of common concern.
These issues that are likely to be at the top of the agenda are Islamist-linked violence in the north, corruption, a more fair distribution of oil wealth, and the effectiveness of the country’s political structure.
But indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria should remain a no-go area, the federal government said earlier.
However, Nigerian and foreign new papers have been pointing out that this issue is on everyone’s mind. The BBC cites some groups as saying that they will raise the topic.
According to the secretary to the federal government, Pius Anyim, conference’s final recommendations will need approval by a 75 percent majority vote.
This requirement, however, may undermine the meeting’s success, Clement Nwankwo, the executive director of the Abuja-based Policy and Legal Advocacy research group, said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, in an interview with Punch disclosed what President Jonathan’s expectation was that the dialogue would be about Nigeria and its future and not about “narrow interests”.
Critics, including the main opposition party All Progressives Congress, have dismissed the conference as a waste of time and money.
The National Conference comes ahead of the 2015 general elections.
‘Contentious Issues’
Some of the most heated debate are expected to center on how the country distributes its oil wealth.The oil is located in southern Nigeria, and some delegates from oil-producing areas want local communities to keep more of the revenue it generates. At present, oil states keep 25% of the oil revenue they earn and hand the rest to the federal government.
But they may face opposition from the north, where poverty levels are considerably higher and insecurity threats posed by Boko Haram require mobilisation of additional resources.
Besides, some Nigerians want more powers to be delegated to the country’s 36 states.
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