The National Conference will today present its report to President Goodluck Jonathan at a ceremony in Abuja.

The Chairman of the Conference, Idris Kutigi will lead the other members of the leadership as well as the 492 delegates to present the document, which is in three volumes, at a ceremony scheduled for 3p.m. at the National Judicial Institute, NJI.

The delegates held a dinner Wednesday night to mark the end of the confab. The dinner was attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo, who assured that the outcome of the Conference would be utilized to settle the nation’s myriad problems.

“The deliberations of the Conference will be utilized to settle the nation’s problems,” Mr. Sambo said, stressing that it was convoked by Mr. Jonathan because of his belief that there was no alternative to dialogue.

The vice president expressed joy at the understanding exhibited by the delegates while the Conference lasted and that Nigerians and the Federal Government would remain grateful to them. He said the delegates succeeded in producing a living document.

The Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, Akpadem James, told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday night that top government officials, including Mr. Namadi, President of the Senate, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloma Muktar, would attend the closing ceremony today.

The Conference commenced March 17 when it was inaugurated by Mr. Jonathan.

It was originally billed to last three months but was granted about one month extension.

It concluded committee sittings and plenary sessions in mid-July after which delegates went on a short break to enable the conference’s secretariat compile the report.

The delegates returned to approve the draft report after which it finally closed last Thursday following a motion by Second Republic Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Richard Akinjide, and seconded by Yadoma Mandara, who was the youngest delegate.

The convocation of the Conference was packaged by a 13-member Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue headed by Femi Okurounmu, a former senator. The Committee submitted its 69-member report last December.

Apart from its 492 membership drawn from different spheres of life, the Conference was supervised and managed by a secretariat whose six members were also nominated by the Federal Government.

The others, besides Mr. Kutigi, were Bolaji Akinyemi, (deputy chairman), Valerie-Janette Azinge (Secretary), Akilu Ndabawa (Assistant Secretary, Conference Proceedings), Mahmood Yakubu (Assistant Secretary, Administration and Finance), and Akpandem James (Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications).

During the period the Conference sat, its stability was tested by some thorny national issues, which included resource control, derivation principle, Land Use Act, national security among others.

However, at the end of it all, the Conference made some far-reaching recommendations.

Below are the highlight of its recommendations made compared with those of the previous conferences, namely the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference (CC) convoked by late head of state, Sani Abacha and the National Political Reform Conference, NPRC, convoked by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Creation of 18 New States

2014 National Conference: Recommended the creation of 18 new states (three per geo-political zone).. Among them are Apa, Edu, Kainji, Katagum, Savannah, Amana, Gurara, Ghari, Etiti (South East zone), Aba, Adada, Njaba-Anim, Anioma, Orashi, Ogoja, Ijebu and New Oyo. Apart from the 18 proposed states, the Conference also recommended one new states for the South East to make the zone have equal number of states with the other zones except the North West which has seven. It also recommended that states willing to merge can also do so based on certain conditions.

2005: NPRC said 36 states structure is too expensive and that the situation will become worse given the number of requests for the creation of new states some of which would need to be met for the sake of peace and stability of the economy.

1994/1995 Constitutional Conference recommended the creation of 20 new states namely Gombe, Apa, Nasarawa, Hadejia, Tiga, Zamfara, Sardauna, Katagum, Ghari, Kainji, Bayelsa, Orashi, Anioma, Ekiti, Ebonyi, New Oyo, Ogoja, Itai, Ijebu-Remo and Rivers East. Some of the states have since been created.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Resource Control/Derivation Principle/Fiscal Federalism
2014 NC: The Conference noted that assigning percentage for the increase in derivation principle, and setting up Special Intervention Funds to address issues of reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas ravaged by insurgency and internal conflicts as well as solid minerals development, require some technical details and consideration. The Conference therefore recommends that Government should set up a Technical Committee to determine the appropriate percentage on the three issues and advise government accordingly.

2005 NPRC: Recommended an increase in the level of derivation from the present 13% to 17% in the interim pending the report of the expert commission. Massive and urgent programme of development of infrastructure and human resources of the Niger Delta should be embarked upon by the Federal Government.

1994/1995 CC: It said in determining the formula, the National Assembly shall take into account allocation principles especially those of population, equality of states, internal revenue generation, land mass, terrain as well as population density provided that the principle of Derivation shall be constantly reflected in any approved formula as being not less than 13% of the Revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly.

The various mineral resources should be controlled and managed by the Government of the Federation through an arrangement which involves Oil Producing States and Communities, in particular, the rights and privileges which the Mineral and Mining Act of 1999 confers on States, Local Governments, Communities and land owners should equally be extended to the case of petroleum resources

`````````````````````````````````````````
Public Finance/Revenue Allocation

2014: That the sharing of the funds to the Federation Account among the three tiers of government should be done in the following manner: Federal Government – 42.5%, State Governments – 35% and Local Governments 22.5%

That the percentage given to population and equality of states in the existing sharing formula be reduced while that assigned to Social Development sector be increased to a much higher percentage so as to ensure accelerated development of all parts of the country.

2005 NPRC: No specific recommendation, but advised that the number of local government in a state should not count as a criterion for revenue allocation

1994/1995 Constitutional Conference: The National Assembly shall determine the Revenue Allocation Formula which formula shall each time remain in force for a period of not less than five years from the day the bill shall be assented to by the president.

`````````````````````````````````````````````
Forms of Government
2014 NC: Recommended the Modified Presidential System, a home-made model of government that effectively combines the presidential and parliamentary systems of government.

The president shall pick the vice president from the Legislature.

The President should select not more than 18 ministers from the six geo -political zones and not more than 30% of his ministers from outside the Legislature. Reduce Cost of governance by pruning the number of political appointees and using staff of ministries where necessary.

2005 NPRC: The Conference recommended the retention of Presidential System of Government.

The number of ministries at the centre should be reduced to between 15 and 18 and to a maximum of 10 at the state level. Similarly, appointment of Special Advisers should be pegged to six and not more than three at the state level. Appointment of special assistants should be made from within the public service.

1994/1995: Recommended presidential system and federalism.

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Legislature
2014 National Conference: [/b]Bi-cameral legislature, but all elected members of the legislative arms of all the tiers of government [b]should serve on part-time basis

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Power Sharing/Rotation

2014 NC: Recommended that the presidential power should rotate between the North and the South and among the six geo-political zones while the governorship will rotate among the three senatorial districts in a state.

2005 NPRC: The principle of power rotation should be enshrined in the Constitution so that executive positions rotate at federal, state and local governments. The office of the president, governors and local government should rotate in such a way that all the geo-political zones in the federation, states, local governments, as the case may be should have a chance to produce a president, governor and local government. It should not however be included in the constitution because of the emotive nature of the issue.

There should be legislation by the National Assembly to ensure that the office of the president should rotate between the north and the south as well as amongst the geo-political zones of the country on the basis of equity, justice and fairness. The principle should be applicable to states and local government on senatorial basis for the governorship and at ward or district for the position of chairman of LGs.

1994/1995 CC: Rotational Presidency should be enshrined in the Constitution. The same logic should apply to rotation of the governors and chairmen of LGs. It recommended multiple vice presidents with a way to ensure that at least one comes from the same zone as the president.

````````````````````````````
Local Government
2014 NC: Local Government will no longer be the third tier of government. The federal and states are now to be the only tiers of government. States can now create as many local governments they want. The Joint State/Local Government Account be scrapped and in its place the establishment of a State RMAFC with representatives of LG and a Chairman nominated by the Governor. The Constitution should fix the tenure for Local Government Councils at three years. Conference recommends the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commission, SIECs.

2005 NPRC: The Conference retained three levels of government comprising federal, state and local government councils

1994/1995 CC: The Local government shall be a third tier of government in Nigeria, but in order to save costs, a local government council shall consist of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and elected Councillors without a legislative arms.

Each State shall maintain a special account to be called “State Joint Local Government Account” into which shall be paid all allocations to the Local government councils of the state from the Federation Account. State Houses of Assembly to create local governments and the life of local government officials will be three years.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Immunity Clause
2014: The immunity clause should be removed if the offences attract criminal charges to encourage accountability by those managing the economy.

2005 NPRC: Recommended that immunity clause as enshrined in Section 308 should be amended to remove immunity provision for crimes bothering on corrupt practices, economic and financial crimes and other serious offences such as suicide and murder.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Independent Candidacy
2014 NC: It recommended that every Nigerian who meets the specified condition in the Electoral Act should be free to contest elections as an independent candidate.

2005 NPRC: Recommended the recognition of Independent candidate in election

1994/1995: The Conference recommended that Independent Candidature should be recognized and should be in the constitution

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Governance
2014 NC: The creation of the office of the Accountant General (Director-General) of the Federation as a distinct and separate office from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federal Government. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation shall oversee the accruals of revenue into and disbursement from the Federation Account as and when due; and shall administer these funds as required by the Constitution, while the office of the Accountant General of the Federal Government shall oversee the accounts of the Federal Government.

2005: Separation of the offices of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. The Attorney General for the Federation shall be appointed by the President for a single term of six years subject to the confirmation by the Senate

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Anti-corruption:
2014: A Special Courts to handle corruption cases should be established in the light of undue prolongation in the trials and prosecution of corruption cases in the regular courts. A non-conviction-based asset forfeiture law should be enacted with broad provisions to deal with all issues of proceeds of crimes by the anti-graft agencies and the courts.

2005: Special Courts should be set up for prosecution of cases emanating from corrupt practices and such cases should not last more than 90 days. Secondly, it recommended that the authorities should Investigate and confiscate corruptly acquired wealth of past rulers and bring them to justice.

Re-introduction of the War Against Corruption and EFCC and Code of Conduct should be made members of Screening Committees at all levels of government to screen all candidates aspiring to political office before elections

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Land Tenure Act
2014 NC: The Land Tenure Act should remain in the Constitution but be amended to take care of those concerns, particularly on compensation in Section 29 (4) of the Act to read “land owners should determine the price and value of their land based on open market value

2005 NPRC:
1994/1995 CC: Recommended that the Land Use Decree should be reviewed in line with the recommendations made by the Nigeria Law Reform Commission in 1991. It rejected the suggestion that the law should be completely abrogated.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
National Anthem
2014 NC: Re-introduce the old National Anthem

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Religion
2104 NC: The Conference recommended that there will be no government sponsorship of Christian and Muslim pilgrimages to the holy lands. It also resolved that churches and mosques should begin to pay tax to government.

- See more at: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/featured-news/167070-key-national-conference-recommendations-you-need-to-know.html#sthash.mjYo5rXq.JGiPWdMo.dpuf

I think this National Conference will take us many step forward if these far reaching recommendations are implemented as against what certain opposition members want us to belief.

God bless Nigeria.

Ok. But it shld also be in d new resolution to Pay graduates dt are yet to be employed monthly salary.

dellyjoe1000: Ok. But it shld also be in d new resolution to Pay graduates dt are yet to be employed monthly salary.

May be in the near future.

This will not make front now so that our people can understand how their country will function and also learn new things. But rubbish will do so. Hypocrisy.

what about state police

hmmm so these are the major things they spent four months arguing and debating about smh

lilprinze: hmmm so these are the major things they spent four months arguing and debating about smh

pls kindly tell us what u think they should have discussed that they didnt

Jonathan oya do the needful..
Please when is the next conference in case you win the election next year.

motif8: pls kindly tell us what u think they should have discussed that they didnt

more important things that would put an end to corruption in Nigeria and bring more developement to Nigeria not creating of 18 more states or religious organizations paying tax

There is tendency for a new Nigeria emerging if this recommendation is welcome.
One thing I like most is the Tax Payment by the religious organisation. I think it is not only tax payment, establishment fee must be paid. Before any religious organisation is established, necessary dues must be paid.
.
Also welcome Ijebu State. My hope of becoming Ijebu Governor is guaranty.

Great report, the folks knew what this country needs to move forward. 18 new states was a master stroke.

for me oo its very hard to differentiate between this recommendation and our present constitution the reason why I support this confab from the beginning is because of corruption which I thought it will utilize,since the delegates insist in bi-cameral legislature they should also recommend the capital punishment for any political office holder who accuse corruption they should also recommend that senator and rep member should more accountability to they are constituency by separate 60% from they are allocation to they are constituency

Old wine in new wine skins. Forgive my opinion but this was a total waste of public fund. The Nigeria I know is open to change but for the sake of perverse futuristic interests our current leaders aren't ready to effect that change we need. Look at the recommendations of the past conference and spot any conspicuous differences. None

Appropriately 500 cannot speak the mind of 167 million people in an era where technology and online debates with threads like we have here would have been the most resolute and cost effective module for this confab. Its logical to conclude that every household either has an internet capable phone or originates from a locality or practically lives in the Nigeria of today. Sensitization on participation and a secure online fora was what was needed.

For the sake of our unborn children let us think out of the box and get it rightly done. I foresee complacency at implementing the few sensible resolutions that were derived from this four months of waste. I do expect the government to publish its total expenditures on this venture as well as compare with its gains if only the excess proceeds wouldn't be used to fund some electioneering purposes.

Nothing on security, what a shame!

for me oo its very hard to differentiate between this recommendation and 1999 constitution the reason why I support this confab from the beginning is because of corruption which I thought it will be utilize,at head of gathering but now since the delegates insist in bi-cameral legislature they should also recommended the capital punishment for any political office holders who alleging corruption they should also recommended that senator and rep member should more accountability to they are constituency by separate 60% from they are allocation to they are constituency if he/she failed to do so the constituency can have a right to recall him. also am not sure that this country can survive without capital punishment even concerning the new court am not sure it can be effective because not a white men will pass a judgment to anyone who found guilty

Resource Control/Derivation Principle/Fiscal Federalism
2014 NC: The Conference noted that assigning percentage for the increase in derivation principle, and setting up Special Intervention Funds to address issues of reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas ravaged by insurgency and internal conflicts as well as solid minerals development, require some technical details and consideration. The Conference therefore recommends that Government should set up a Technical Committee to determine the appropriate percentage on the three issues and advise government accordingly.



This is the ko-ko of the matter and they tactically dodged it recommending "Another Committee". The Confab is a failure and Dead!!!!
Shame to Jonathan

Plz o,xcept from ijebu state n new oyo state,wot z d name of d 3rd state dat z created in d south west n r d ijaw arobo n apoi part of d new state created from ondo state

No state police, nothing on the security situation of the country, no boundary adjustments? Fam, this is bull.

Only two state is created from SW are they going to join Ose from benin to Sw.

What is all this rotation of power and creation of new states going to acheive?

To me their is no outstanding recommendation up there that will effect the needed change in this country.

MORNDEW: This will not make front now so that our people can understand how their country will function and also learn new things. But rubbish will do so. Hypocrisy.

You are too damn quick to judge. If it eventually makes front what are you gonna call yourself, a fool who tried to outrun his shadow when the sun shone from behind him

For me, anything that grants more funds to the Federal govt than the states is absolutely useless!!! We keep bouncing around this keep talking about true Federalism.

Smh.

This national conference failed to achieve the most critical issues bothering the existence of Nigeria as a nation. I will outline some of them below;

1. The National Question: The notion of the national question is traceable to the structural defects and imbalances created by the amalgamation in 1914 of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria to form a unified colony of the British Empire. The conference failed to give answers to the following questions;
i. Who are Northerners?
ii. Who are Southerners?
iii. Is there a regional identity for the minorities who are swallowed up in the northern and Southern dichotomy?
iv. On what basis are the people of Nigeria known as Nigerians?
This issue constitutes one of the biggest problems that we face as a nation. The lack of clarity in these definitions is the reason for the constant ethno-religious conflicts, as well as the constant agitation for independence by ethnic groups in Nigeria.

2. National Boundary Issues: There are conflicts in different parts of Nigeria that were caused by the lack of clarity in boundary demarcation and ownership of natural resources. The case of Anambra and Kogi comes to mind. This should have been an avenue to address the issue once and for all.

3. Leadership Accountability: It is surprising that the members of this conference failed to use this opportunity to recommend stringent measures and penalties for leaders that are not accountable. They should have recommended the introduction of constant audit of the wealth of government office holders, as well as recommended something like "death penalty" or Life imprisonment" for corrupt and irresponsible leaders

4. Installment of a system based on meritocracy than federal character: This is the most worrisome of all. The continuous preference of federal character over merit and capability means that Nigeria will continue to have leaders that will emerge due to their influence in their regions, rather than due to their leadership capabilities. For example, in GEJ's tenure, there are few leaders that are exceptional. Among them are Fashola, Akpabuyo, Rochas, Chime etc. What federal character implies is that none of these performing governors can contest after GEJ. Rather, one of the influential northerners, who may be really inept, retrogressive, but influential may emerge! It could also be the case with southern Nigeria (Please, no tribalism intended).

I just feel that the conference has not achieved anything at all.

Am i missing some thing here

Public Finance/Revenue Allocation

2014: That the sharing of the funds to the Federation Account among the three tiers of government should be done in the following manner: Federal Government – 42.5%, State Governments – 35% and Local Governments 22.5% [/quote

Local Government
2014 NC: Local Government will no longer be the third tier of government. The federal and states are now to be the only tiers of government. States can now create as many local governments they want. The Joint State/Local Government Account be scrapped and in its place the establishment of a State RMAFC with representatives of LG and a Chairman nominated by the Governor. The Constitution should fix the tenure for Local Government Councils at three years. Conference recommends the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commission, SIECs.

This is b.ul.ls.hit!! Wht do u expect 4rm old brains?? Its clear dat dis people only went there to sleep as usual.

ABEngine: Old wine in new wine skins. Forgive my opinion but this was a total waste of public fund. The Nigeria I know is open to change but for the sake of perverse futuristic interests our current leaders aren't ready to effect that change we need. Look at the recommendations of the past conference and spot any conspicuous differences. None

Appropriately 500 cannot speak the mind of 167 million people in an era where technology and online debates with threads like we have here would have been the most resolute and cost effective module for this confab. Its logical to conclude that every household either has an internet capable phone or originates from a locality or practically lives in the Nigeria of today. Sensitization on participation and a secure online fora was what was needed.

For the sake of our unborn children let us think out of the box and get it rightly done. I foresee complacency at implementing the few sensible resolutions that were derived from this four months of waste. I do expect the government to publish its total expenditures on this venture as well as compare with its gains if only the excess proceeds wouldn't be used to fund some electioneering purposes.

These recommendations will still be subjected to the people by way of referendum.

Jalal: Nothing on security, what a shame!

Definitely there will be something on security. The title of this thread reads "key recommendations you need to know"

Thanks.

barcanista: Resource Control/Derivation Principle/Fiscal Federalism
2014 NC: The Conference noted that assigning percentage for the increase in derivation principle, and setting up Special Intervention Funds to address issues of reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas ravaged by insurgency and internal conflicts as well as solid minerals development, require some technical details and consideration. The Conference therefore recommends that Government should set up a Technical Committee to determine the appropriate percentage on the three issues and advise government accordingly.



This is the ko-ko of the matter and they tactically dodged it recommending "Another Committee". The Confab is a failure and Dead!!!!
Shame to Jonathan

Failure? Can we stop to be pessimistic for once? The "ko-ko" was not tactically dodged, if you followed proceedings at this confab you will know the efforts made to come up with a definite recommendation on resource control but our brothers from the North will never have that happen. So as not to make all efforts wasted the needful was done. Tanx.

Shine1177:

These recommendations will still be subjected to the people by way of referendum.

Which referendum? After jona has perform the burial rite and funeral service for the conference yesterday, that he will send their resolution to national assembly, you are talking of referendum. National conference is a jamboree

abu12:

Which referendum? After jona has perform the burial rite and funeral service for the conference yesterday, that he will send their resolution to national assembly, you are talking of referendum. National conference is a jamboree

Council of State of State, National Assembly and the people my brother. If you notice, the drumbeat of secession has since died when the North was outsmart from disrupting its progress and success. Let be positive.

The many grammar about LGs is discouraging. LGs should be granted full autonomy but i love the one below.
Religion
2104 NC: The Conference recommended that there will be no government sponsorship of Christian and Muslim pilgrimages to the holy lands. It also resolved that churches and mosques should begin to pay tax to government.
1000000 likes