NSCIA sets agenda for national conference

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs on Thursday urged the Federal Government to make certain critical issues part of the agenda of the proposed national conference.

These include elimination of impunity and corruption; state and religion; revenue mobilisation and allocation; fiscal federalism; and the structure of the Nigerian federal system.

Other matters suggested are improvement on security and harmony among groups and communities in Nigeria.

It also called for  improved capacity for the implementation of reports and recommendations of panels set up by the administration in the last few years.

In the statement  signed by NSCIA’s Acting Director of Publicity, Muhammad   Qasim, the group stated that the inclusion of the issues raised on the agenda of the conference would improve the unity of the country.

NSCIA said nominations by the two major religions (Christianity and Islam) should be at least 25 persons each and five for others.

It stated that allocation of delegates to political parties should be at least five for each party with representation in the National Assembly, and five for all other registered parties with no representation.

NSCIA canvassed that nominations by all stakeholders should, as a precondition for acceptance, reflect religious and other diversities.

It added that the decision of the conference should be made by consensus where possible, or in a manner that would allow all views and opinions to be faithfully captured in decisions  and recommendations.

 The council said that given its severe limitations in terms of legitimacy and restricted mandate, the conference should treat all issues with the highest level of responsibility.

The body also urged the conference to consider the impact of its proceedings and conclusions on the nation.

“The details of the conference released indicate that none of the delegates will enjoy an elective mandate.  For a conference with the potential to make critical inputs into the manner the nation is structured and operated, the fact that all delegates will be nominated detracts from the required level of legitimacy of its outcome.

“The selection of stakeholders in the templates and the allocated proportions of delegates will pose problems to the principles of diversity and sensitivity to the need for balance and critical demographics.

“NSCIA is particularly concerned about the large number of delegates that will be nominated by the President, given its widespread clamour for equity and justice in the manner sensitive appointments are made.

“Specifically, appeals for requisite balance in appointments to top positions in the military, other security agencies and all sensitive agencies have not been considered. NSCIA therefore has little faith that there will be appropriate balance between religious and regional groups,” it said.

Meanwhile, residents of Abakaliki have called on the state’s delegates to the proposed national conference to represent the state and the south east zone effectively.

Reacting to the list of delegates nominated to represent the state, some of the respondents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria  on Thursday, said the state government was right in its choice of the three delegates.

Those selected were the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Dr. Chigozie Ogbu, a Second Republic senator, Chief Ofia Nwali, and Mrs. Adaeze Nwuzor.

A political analyst, Mr. Jude Chukwu, said those selected were people with track records of excellence who had held political and administrative positions at one time or the other.

“I want to implore them to utilise their vast experience in public service to give the state and south-east a robust and effective representation.

“This conference has provided an opportunity for the various segments that make up the nation to come together to chart a new course for our country,’’ he said.

In her reaction, Mrs. Nelly Onwe, an educationist, urged them to rise above personal, political and cultural considerations and give the state and the zone qualitative representation.

“They should be patriotic and rise above parochial and political sentiments. They should synergise with delegates from other states to fully maximise the essence of the conference,”she said.

Copyright PUNCH.