ABUJA – Barely forty-eight hours to his final exit from Aso Rock, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, forwarded Report of the 2014 National Conference, to the National Assembly for consideration and necessary legislative actions.
The Confab which cost about N7 billion, held between March 17 and August 14, 2014, and the Reports were submitted in several volumes to President Jonathan on August 21, 2014.
This is even as the NASS and the Presidency are yet to resolve their differences over attempt at Fourth Alteration of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as Amended), as recently directed by the Supreme Court.
Political watchers see President Jonathan’s last minutes action as a bargain for his endorsement of the controversial amended Constitution.
As a result, the current (7th) National Assembly is expected to officially approve the Confab Report for consideration and transmission by Resolution to the next (8th) NASS which begins second week of June 2015, for further necessary legislative action.
However, in his conveyance letter President Jonathan recalled that the Confab had at inauguration been directed to discuss any issue about Nigeria with particular emphasis on finding lasting solution the unity of the country.
He added that the Conference was however barred from discussing any issue that would lead to disintegration of the country.
Bellow are excerpts of the Presidential Letter to the National Assembly as read on the floor of the Senate of the Federal Republic by presiding Senate President David Mark:
“Approval for the implementation of the recommendations and resolutions of the National Conference 2014.
May I draw the attention of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the enclosed Report of the National Conference, 2014 which was deliberated upon and approved for implementation by the Federal Executive Council at its meeting of 18th March 2015.
Your Excellency may recall that the National Conference was inaugurated on the 17th of March 2014, with the mandate to among other things:
(a) discuss any issue about Nigeria with particular emphasis on finding solutions to the problems of national unity and development.
(b), come up with strategies to strengthen rather than weaken Nigeria’s unity and enhance a participatory and inclusive democratic system of government.
(c)’ recognise the need to move the country forward and de-emphasise the narrow interest that define our fault lines.
(d), spell out the modalities for the implementation of these recommendations and resolutions.
(e) suggest any constitutional arrangement they consider best for Nigeria.
Although, the national conference was not given any no go areas, it was enjoined to refrain from discussing the breakup of the country.
Distinguished senators are invited to note that at the end of the conference, a report was submitted with recommendations and resolutions covering the following thematic areas:
Agriculture and Water Resources, Citizenship, Immigration and Related Matters, Civil Society Organisations, Labour, Youths and Sports, Devolution of Power, Economy, Trade and Investment, Energy, Environment, Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters, Law, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Reform. Land Tenure Matters and National Boundaries, National Security, Political Restructuring and Forms of Government, Political Parties and Electoral Matters, Policies and Governance, Public Finance, Public Service, Social Sector, Religion, Science Technology and Development and Transportation.
The recommendations of the Conference on the implementation modalities of the Resolutions are contained in Chapter six of the Report.
The Resolutions are classified into three broad categories, constitutional, legal and policy issues.
The report further indicates that the nature of the actions to be taken, the objectives to be achieved and the agency that needs to take the actions.
The conference also submitted draft bills of resolutions that require constitution amendments or legal amendments.
At the meeting of FEC on 18th of March 2015, Council considered and approved the reports of the Conference and resolved as fellows.
A) That the draft bills be transmitted to the National Assembly for enactment into law; (B) That the Recommendations, Resolutions that are outside the purview of the Federal Government be forwarded to the relevant tiers of government for implementations; (C) That relevant agencies of government should harmonise the Conference resolutions with extant policies for immediate implementation.
Distinguished Senate President, the report of the National Connference is hereby forwarded to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for consideration and necessary legislative actions”.

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