The Nigerian Government today in Abuja released modalities and for the forthcoming National Conference. This was done by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, at a press conference attended by Chairman of the National Conference Advisory Committee, Senator Femi Okunronmu, and the Secretary, Dr. Akilu Indabawa.

Below is the part of Anyim’s statement dealing with modalities of the conference, which includes one “no go” area:

(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.

•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.

•Pursuant to the foregoing, the modalities for the nomination of delegates to the Conference are as provided in the attached table.

•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.

•Photo shows SGF Anyim.

PROPOSED COMPOSITION OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
S/N	STAKEHOLDERS	DETAILS	DELEGATES	REMARKS
1.	Elder Statesmen	1 per State and FCT	37	Nomination by President
2.	Retired Military and Security Personnel: i. Military ii. Police iii. State Security and NIA	1 per Geo-political Zone 1 per Geo-political Zone 1 per Geo-political Zone	6 6 6	Nomination by Stakeholders
3.	Traditional Rulers	2 per Zone + 1 for FCT	13	Nomination by Stakeholders
4.	Retired Civil Servants	1 per Zone	6	Nomination by Stakeholders
5.	Labour Representatives: i. NLC ii. TUC	Nominations should reflect Geo-political and Gender Balance	12 12	Nomination by NLC Nomination by TUC
6.	Organised Private Sector i. NECA ii. MAN iii. NACCIMA iv. NESG		2 2 2 2	Nomination by Stakeholders
7.	Nigeria Youth Organisations: i. Nat. Youth Council of Nigeria ii. NANS iii. Other (Outstanding Youths and Role Models)	1 per Geo-political Zone 1 per Geo-political Zone 1 per Geo-political Zone	6 6 6	Nomination by Stakeholders Nomination by Stakeholders Nomination by Federal Government
8.	Women Groups: i. NCWS ii. Market Women Associations iii. FIDA, NAWOJ, WINBIZ	2 per Geo-political Zone 1 per Geo-political Zone 2 per Organisation	12 6 6	Nomination by Stakeholders
9.	Political Parties: i. PDP ii. APC iii. APGA iv. Accord Party v. Labour Party	Parties that have representation in the National Assembly	2 2 2 2 2	Nomination by Stakeholders
10.	Muslim Leaders		6	Nomination by Stakeholders
11.	Christian Leaders		6	Nomination by Stakeholders
12.	Civil Society Organisations	Ensure spread	24	Nomination by Stakeholders
13.	Nigerians in Diaspora (Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Middle East)	2 per location	8	Nomination by Stakeholders
14.	People Living with Disabilities	1 per Geo-political Zone	6	Nomination by Stakeholders
15.	Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria		2	Nomination by Stakeholders
16.	Nigeria Guild of Editors		2	Nomination by Stakeholders
17.	Nigeria Union of Journalists		2	Nomination by Stakeholders
18.	Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria		2	Nomination by Stakeholders
19.	Socio-Political/Cultural and Ethnic Nationality Groups	15 per Geo-political Zone-Nominations should reflect Ethnic and Religious Diversities.	90	Nomination by Stakeholders
20.	Professional Bodies: NBA, NSE, CIB, NMA, NIM, NIA, ICAN, ANAN, NIPR, AAPN, NIESV, Nigerian Environmental Society, Nigeria Economic Society.	1 per Organisation	13	Nomination by Stakeholders
21.	National Academies: i. Academy of Science ii. Academy of Engineering iii. Academy of Education iv. Academy of Letters v. Academy of Social Sciences	1 per Academy	5	Nomination by Stakeholders
22.	Judiciary	Persons not currently serving on the Bench	6	Nomination by President
23.	Former Political Office holders: i. Former Governors ii. Senators Forum iii. House of Reps. Forum iv. Association of Former Speakers	1 per Geo political Zone 1 per Geo political Zone 1 per Geo political Zone 1 per Geo political Zone	6 6 6 6	Nomination by Stakeholders
24.	Federal Government of Nigeria	20 at least 6 shall be women	20	Nomination by FGN
25.	State Governments and FCT	3 per State and 1 for FCT – based on Senatorial District at least one of whom shall be a woman	109	Nomination by State Governors – where the State Governor fails to nominate, the President shall nominate the required number from the State.
26.	Former LGA Chairmen	1 per Geo-political Zone	6	Nomination by ALGON
27.	Chairman, Deputy Chair and Secretary	Geo-political spread to be observed	3	Nomination by President
TOTAL NUMBER OF DELEGATES - 492

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