National Conference: Use Of Foul Language Banned In New Draft Rules

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The prohibition of foul language, reaching a consensus on issues and a requirement that resolutions can only be passed by two-thirds or 75 per cent of the delegates are some of the draft rules and procedures that have been released by the National Conference secretariat.

The rules, which were distributed to the delegates yesterday and will be deliberated and approved on Monday when they reconvene, also stipulate that where a resolution cannot be reached by a two-thirds majority, the delegates will be given an extra week to agree and pass a resolution on the issue.

A delegate, who spoke to Thisday gave some key highlights of the conference guidelines titled, “National Conference Procedure Rules, 2014”, said delegates would also be required to affirm the indivisibility and sovereignty of Nigeria.

He further disclosed that delegates who wish to address the session must stick to issues that are relevant to the subject of discussion at a particular session. Where a new issue is to be tabled, delegates would be required to write to the secretary of the conference, it will be gazetted and shared to delegates at every sitting.

The guidelines, he said, also requires every member to be present at each session, but in the event of ill health, the delegate must write to the secretary to obtain permission to be absent.

Other rules include:

* A delegate risks being suspended for 14 days if found flouting the rules of proceeding of the conference.

* The federal government is also proposing to disallow members from addressing issues at hand without prior written notice to the chairman of the conference.

* Delegates are barred from assaulting or obstructing one another within the conference room or precincts of the conference room and or assaulting or obstructing any office of the conference while in the execution of his/her duty.

* No portion of these rules shall be suspended except by a vote of two-third majority of the delegates sitting and voting at the particular time.

* A delegate may only read short extracts from books or papers in support of his argument and may refresh his memory by reference to notes.

* A delegate must confine his contributions to the subject under discussion and may not introduce matters irrelevant thereto.

* It shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the conference has come to a conclusion.

* It shall be out of order to use offensive and insulting language during sittings either at plenary or in committees.

* No delegate shall impute improper motives to any other delegate.

* Delegates are prohibited from smoking or drinking on the floor of the conference.

* The use of mobile phones shall not be allowed during sittings.

* A delegate desiring to speak shall submit his name to the secretary on a paper to be provided and if called upon shall stand and address his observations to the chairman or the chairman of committee.

* All committees shall forward their reports to the secretary at the conclusion of its sitting.

* The secretary shall at her discretion determine when such reports of a committee shall be brought up at plenary for deliberation.

Also, a statement issued by the Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications of the secretariat, Akpandem James, said the rules would enable them to prepare for the debate, ratification and subsequent adoption on Monday when the plenary resumes.

According to the secretariat, when adopted by the delegates, the provisions would form the official rules of proceedings for the conference.

The statement also said a copy of the Constitution of Nigeria (1999) was made available to the delegates in keeping with the promise given during the inaugural sitting by the chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi.

According to James, “The Draft Rules and the 1999 Constitution have been ready since 6 this morning and we have made them available to the delegates to study.

“However, it is only a draft; it is going to be debated clause by clause by the delegates on Monday. If they (delegates) adopt it, then it becomes the rules guiding the conference.

“But if there is any clause they feel should be amended or rejected, then they will decide at the plenary on Monday.

“What we are trying to do as a secretariat is to make the delegates as comfortable as possible to ensure smooth proceedings throughout the conference.”

Some of the delegates collected copies of the draft rules and the 1999 Constitution yesterday.

They also said they had also begun studying the voluminous reports of previous conferences that were given to them at their inaugural meeting on Tuesday. [Thisday]

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