THE Senate on wednesday requested for the submission of the 2014 National Conference report for consideration by the Federal Government.

The Senate’s decision was sequel to a motion sponsored by the Leader of Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, on the need for National Unity and Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria.

The National Conference was set up by the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan had promised to implement the recommendations if he was re-elected.

However, his party, the Peoples Democratic Patty, was defeated by the All Progressives Congress, which had Muhammadu Buhari as presidential candidate.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North) highlighted the issue of submission of the confab report to the National Assembly, when he prayed the Senate to urge the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to forward the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference to the parliament for deliberation.

Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West), who seconded the motion, insisted that submission and deliberation of the confab report was the way to go.

Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, however, informed the Senate that President Goodluck Jonathan administration forwarded the confab resolutions to the National Assembly one week to the expiration of the 7th National Assembly.

Ekweremadu noted that for the parliament to act on the report, the Presidency has to re-forward the report afresh.

Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) was categorical in his submission that the Presidency should take steps to forward the report to the National Assembly for deliberation.

Aliero said a lot of the issues that gave rise to agitations by sections of the country were addressed at the conference.

Senator Jonah Jang (Plateau North) asked the Senate to demand immediate submission of the report to the National Assembly for deliberation.

Jang said: “There was a conference that was well-attended; resolutions were arrived at. The Senate should demand that the report should be tabled before the Senate for consideration and implementation.”

Senator Gbonlahan Dada (Ogun West) asked the Senate to spearhead the campaign for restructuring of the country.

He said: “We must address the critical issue; the critical issue is that the country is sick. May God heal the nation.”

Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, in his lead debate, said the Senate should note with serious concern that the greatest challenge facing the country was threat to national unity.

He said calls for self-determination, ethnicity and religious intolerance have enveloped national consciousness.

The Yobe North lawmaker noted that since independence, national integration has been the priority of government, which saw the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Unity School system, the Federal Character principles and many other affirmative policies intended to achieve national integration and peaceful coexistence.

He observed that various integration policies and programmes in the country have yielded some desired outcomes, “but there is more to be done as primordial ethnic sentiments and loyalties are still deep rooted”.


Lawan prayed that Senate to convey the commitment of all Nigerians that “we live together in unity and harmony as one indivisible, indissoluble sovereign nation under God; urge all Nigerians to desist from actions and utterances that are capable of jeopardising the corporate existence of our dear nation; urge senator to intensify their representative roles by embarking on sensitisation campaign in their various constituencies to highlight the importance of harmonious and peaceful coexistence”.

He prayed the Federal Government to direct the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and other relevant agencies to intensify enlightenment and advocacy of loyalty to the nation.

The prayers were adopted.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) stressed the need for Nigerians to live in peace and harmony.

She urged Nigerians to always ask what they can do for the country and not what Nigeria can do for them.

Ekweremadu underscored the necessity for patriotism, equity, fair play and harmony as the thrust of the country’s unity.

He added that there was no doubt that “we are better off united under the rule of law”.