By Olusegun Lawrence Delegates to the ongoing National Conference in Abuja were divided Thursday when the Committee on Devolution of Powers submitted two reports.
While the Committee’s co-chairmen, Victor Attah and Ibrahim Coomassie presented the ‘Main’ report, a frontline member of the committee, Ms Aniko Briggs, submitted a ‘Minority’ report.
During the committee’s meeting the issue of 13 percent derivation principle was contentious but members later agreed that the status quo be maintained.
Ms Briggs, a Niger Delta activist, has been consistent in her opposition to maintaining the status quo at it relates to 13 percent derivation.
Her minority report supports increase in derivation to resource producing states from the present 13 percent to at least 50 percent, as well as creation of State Police.
These two issues were rejected at the committee level as members by consensus agreed to maintain the status quo.
A delegate, Bello Haliru, however raised a point of order, noting that the rules of the confab do not allow for a minority report.
After submitting the report, Ms Briggs left the plenary.
