FG to cut national conference budget?

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim

The Federal Government will cut down the N7bn budget earmarked for the delegates to the national conference, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt on Saturday.

A source in the Presidency told SUNDAY PUNCH that the reduction became necessary because the amount was an estimate for 571 delegates but the number of delegates had dropped to 492.

Our correspondent was informed that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, had explained that the N7bn estimate was done per the number of delegates

.

“The estimate then was about 571 delegates but now that the figure has reduced to 492, it is likely that the budget will also come down. So, the N7bn that was reported will most likely be reduced and this is to ensure prudence for which the administration has been known,” the source stated.

Meanwhile, the former Secretary-General of Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Mathew Hassan Kukah, has said the N7bn is “chicken feed by Nigerian standard,” considering the amount stolen  in Nigeria.

He said, “The N7bn is just pocket money, that is chicken feed by Nigerian standard; that is if you consider how much money is being stolen from this country. So, even if they are going to commit N10bn for people to stay in hotels in Nigeria it probably may not be enough.

“I am not being cynical but I am just saying the money is not the issue. Building a nation is a serious matter. If I had my way, my approach to these issues would be completely different.”

Also reacting to the plans for the confab, the Arewa Consultative Forum expressed concern about the three-month duration stipulated for the national conference.

The spokesman for the forum, Anthony Sani, said, “Our only area of concern is that three months may not be enough for thorough and robust debates needed for progress, as espoused by the promoters.

“I think it is late in the day to say anything against or for the success of the conference at this time when the government is set to execute it. Though ACF has never believed that the solution to socio-economic challenges besetting the nation lies with convocation of national conference, as long as the promoters believe it is possible for the conference to further the cause of a united whole Nigeria, there should be no problem”.

Sani said ACF was satisfied that the recommendations for representations based on ethnicity had been rejected.

 “Yet, we pray that the nominees will be Nigeria’s first eleven who are endowed with public intelligence and patriotic courage needed for addressing of issues of real concern to real Nigerians in the conference,” he said.