STATEMENT
BY ANYIM PIUS ANYIM, GCON, SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION, ON
THE OCASSION OF THE RELEASE OF THE MODALITIES FOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO THE
MEDIA ON 3OTH JANUARY, 2014; ABUJA
Gentlemen
of the Press,
It is my
pleasure to welcome you all to this Press Conference. The purpose is to share
with you, the highlights of the decisions of the Federal Government on the
Report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue. I am indeed
pleased and grateful that I am joined here today by the Chairman of the
Advisory Committee, Senator Femi Okunronmu and the Secretary, Dr. Akilu
Indabawa. I will make a brief statement and thereafter, all of us will be
available to respond to your questions.
2. You will recall that the President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR,
during his Independence Day National Broadcast, on 1st October, 2013
set up a 13-Member Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue under
Senator Femi Okurounmu. The Committee which was inaugurated on 7th
October 2013 was mandated to advise Government on the framework for a national
dialogue by consulting widely with Nigerians. The Committee was given seven (7)
terms of reference and was asked to submit its report in six (6) weeks. The Committee met that target and in many respects,
it exceeded all expectations. At this
juncture, let me once again, on behalf of the President, thank the Chairman and
members of the Committee for their dedication, tenacity and courage in handling
the assignment.
3. The Federal Government is satisfied that
the Committee has diligently discharged its task to the nation and
posterity. This is moreso, especially as
one recalls the foundational principles of their assignment as espoused by President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the inauguration of the Committee. On that occasion,
Mr. President emphasized that, “this is a National Project, a sincere and
fundamental undertaking, aimed at realistically examining and genuinely
resolving, long-standing impediments to our cohesion and harmonious
development as a truly United Nation”.
4. You will also recall that the President
further stressed that, “sitting down to talk is one right step in calming down
tensions and channeling our grievances, misgivings and suggestions into more
positive use for the good of our country”. The President stated as well that in
any case, Nigerians are already talking about their national challenges through
the print and electronic media. He observed that, “the only gap is that while
these talks are sometimes weighty, they often lack direction”. Therefore, one
of the objectives for setting up the Committee was to lend weight and direction
to the National Dialogue. You may also recall that Mr. President has also
allayed “the fears of those who think the National Dialogue will call the
integrity of Nigeria into question”, and added that, “this National Dialogue
will strengthen our union and address issues that are often on the front
burner, but too frequently ignored”.
5. I wish to thank all Nigerians for their
enthusiastic response to the opportunity to structure a national dialogue in
the manner offered by the President. We are grateful for the massive support and
encouragement that the broad strata and all sections of our nation gave to the
Advisory Committee in all parts of the country they visited. Also, let me in particular, extend our deep
appreciation to members of the press. All of you contributed in no small way to
sustain free and robust debate on every platform, to promote the ideals of the
national dialogue.
6. I am pleased to inform you that Government
gave the most expeditious consideration to the Report of the Advisory
Committee. In doing so, we sought explanations and guidance from the members of
the Committee as at when necessary. We were also deeply encouraged by the calls
by Nigerians from all works of life for us to proceed with the Report of the
Committee with uttermost urgency, so that the nation can be through with the Dialogue
well ahead of the approaching political season.
7. I now have the privilege to announce that
the Government, after long and mature deliberations on the Committees’ Report,
accepts the following recommendations for immediate implementation:
(a) The
official name of the conversation/conference shall be "The National
Conference";
(b) The National Conference shall
hold in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;
(c) The
National Conference shall tentatively last for 3 months and shall discuss any
subject matter, except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation,
therefore the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable;
(d) A
Conference Management Secretariat shall be established to manage, administer
and run the affairs of the Conference;
(e) Decisions
at the National Conference shall be by consensus; but where it is not achievable;
it shall be by 75% majority;
(f) The
National Conference shall advise the Government on the legal framework, legal
procedures and options for integrating the decisions and outcomes of the
national conference into the Constitution and laws of the country; and
(g) The
National Conference shall have a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson of
unimpeachable integrity.
8. Furthermore, the Federal Government has since approved the next
steps necessary towards actualizing the National Conference as follows:
(i) 30th
January, 2014 - Formal release of the
modalities for the National Conference;
(ii) 30th January, 2014 - 20th
February, 2014 Nomination of Delegates;
(iii) Inauguration
of the Conference will follow soon after the delegate list is concluded.
9. Pursuant to the foregoing, the modalities for the nomination of
delegates to the Conference are as provided in the attached table.
10. The list of nominees shall be submitted either online to www.osgf.gov.ng or in hard copy to the
Office of the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties Office), Office of the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Secretariat Complex,
Phase I, 3rd Floor, Central Business District, Abuja. Formal inauguration of the Conference shall
follow as soon as the nominations are received and collated.
11. Thank you.
ANYIM
PIUS ANYIM, GCON
Secretary to the Government of the
Federation
No comments:
Post a Comment