National Conference plots extension of stay

Indications emerged on Tuesday that the National Conference has commenced a plot to extend its stay beyond the three months it was mandated to sit.
The 492-member Conference was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan on March 17 and it is expected to sit till June.
The Conference sat in plenary for four weeks to discuss the president’s address to it before dissolving into 20 standing committees last week.
Each delegate is paid about N2.9 million monthly.
However, it was gathered on Tuesday that the Conference Chairman, Idris Kutigi, met with the chairmen and co-chairmen of the Committees on Monday afternoon to discuss the possibility of extending the life of the Conference beyond the initial three months.
A source who pleaded anonymity because he was not permitted to speak told us that most of the Committee heads complained that the two weeks given to them to complete their work and submit reports was inadequate.
During the meetings to debrief their members on Tuesday, some of the Committees
shut out journalists to avoid making it public for now.
It was gathered that during the parley, Mr. Kutigi was cautious in agreeing to the suggestion as it could be interpreted wrongly by the government and the general public.
Although, the Chairman was said to have agreed reluctantly to push for extension, it was gathered that the meeting finally resolved that the Conference could hide under the pretext that some public holidays observed by the country had also affected its work.
Also, the committee heads agreed to cite the coming World Economic Forum which holds between May 7 and 9, as one of the things that would affect its assignment.
Since March when the Conference commenced sitting, the nation has had two days as public holidays – Easter holiday – while another one holds on May 1 which is the Labour Day.
The Conference sits every weekday except on Fridays.