The House of Representatives, at plenary Wednesday, stepped down a motion to obtain the report of the 2014 National Conference with the purpose of including it in the ongoing constitutional amendment process of the National Assembly.
The House Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, who sponsored the motion, made reference to the reports of the 2014 National Conference and the report of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on True Federalism, chaired by Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, saying that it will address the mileage and challenges being faced in the union.
Moving the motion, Okechukwu said the House is aware that the federal hovernment instituted the National Conference on March 17, 2014 where about 492 delegates drawn from various segments, interest and professional groups of the Nigerian society brainstormed on how to build Nigeria into a more cohesive, viable and prosperous union.
He also noted that the conference made over 600 recommendations cutting across public service; devolution of powers and political restructuring; national security; trade and investment; energy; public finance and revenue generation; social welfare; politics and governance; and electoral reforms, amongst others.
Reacting, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, asked Okechukwu if he was okay with the Deputy Speakers input even though the prayer of the motion was commendable.
Responding, Okechukwu agreed to withdraw it but added that the documents should be made available to the committee in the course of its sitting.
Speaking to journalists subsequently, Okechukwu stated that he would ensure that the document was obtained at the committee level.
Also, the House Leader, Ado Doguwa, said there was no opposition to the motion, but that it was procedurally wrong to ask the House to specifically call for the documents.
He added that the motion was unnecessary as the committee had already been mandated to do its work.
