Food forces delegates to introduce closed-door sessions

Though they have not voted on the matter, it has been tabled for discussion and may come up in their deliberations Monday, when they are expected to resume after the weekend break. Jardin Ebinum had in the morning session complained about poor arrangement and difficulties delegates face during lunch each day, and moved a motion […]

Though they have not voted on the matter, it has been tabled for discussion and may come up in their deliberations Monday, when they are expected to resume after the weekend break. Jardin Ebinum had in the morning session complained about poor arrangement and difficulties delegates face during lunch each day, and moved a motion for delegates to be allowed to make their lunch arrangements.
Daily Trust had last week reported that government spends N4,000 per delegate for lunch each day and even though Ebinum did not call for the monetisation of lunch, the delegates voted against his motion. On resumption after the break, Dan Nwanyanwu addressed the house urging them to be mindful of what they say, bearing in mind that there are journalists covering the National Conference who may report that delegates are fighting over food.
A delegate, Musa Abdullahi Elayo, who had in the early days of the conference called for the introduction of executive sessions, also spoke yesterday, saying his position has been vindicated because executive sessions will allow delegates talk more freely.
At that point, the Deputy Chairman of the Conference Bolaji Akinyemi who was presiding because the Chairman Idris Kutigi was not around at the time, promised to forward the matter to Kutigi when he rejoined the plenary.
After the day’s proceedings, Kutigi raised the matter of food again but Josephine Anenih said there has been remarkable improvement in the situation, praising the secretariat for doing a wonderful job.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who supported Anenih’s claim on improved quality of food, called for sufficient food to be provided, saying not every delegate gets to eat every day.