National Conference: FG names ex-CJN, Kutigi, chairman

former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi
| credits: www.nigeriaa2z.com

President Goodluck Jonathan  has approved the appointment of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris   Kutigi,  as the  chairman  of the National Conference.

A statement   on Monday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim,  named  a former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi,  as the vice-chairman  and the  wife of the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies,  Dr. Valerie Azinge,  as Secretary.

The appointees  are  to resume  duty  tomorrow  in Abuja.

The  Federal Government had in releasing the modalities for nominations for the proposed National Conference, said the conference  was expected to hold in the Federal Capital Territory. It    is expected to last   three months.

According to Anyim,   492 nominees  will   participate in the conference, which is to be held  in the Federal Capital Territory.

He stated that where consensus was not achievable, “it shall be by 75 per cent majority.”

Anyim said that after the  three-month deliberations, the conference itself would advise the government on the legal framework,   procedures and options for integrating its  decisions and outcomes  into the 1999 Constitution.

The SGF had stated that the conference would discuss any subject matter, except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation.

He  had quoted the President as saying, “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.”

Modalities for the conference as outlined by the SGF include 37 elder statesmen; one per state and the FCT, to be nominated by the President.

The list also includes retired military and security personnel from each of the armed forces, the Police, the State Security Service  and the  Nigeria Intelligence Agency .