Confab: Delegate complain about food, reject monetisation

Some delegates participating in the ongoing National Conference were on Thursday in Abuja angry about the feeding arrangement by the leadership of the summit.

It was during the morning session. While some of them expressed disappointment about the poor quality of food, others said they wanted the food to be monetised to enable them to source for food outside the conference venue.

This led to a heated argument. Tempers flew when a delegate from the South South, Mr. J.I Ebinum, moved a motion to stop the secretariat from the provision of lunch for the delegates.

His motion, which came shortly before the delegates took their break for lunch, was rejected by other delegates who shouted “No” to the request.

Ebinum had argued that the feeding should be stopped as the caterer, handling the feeding services, had failed to make enough food available despite all complaints to that effect.

However when the Chairman of conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, put the matter to vote, the delegates shut down the motion and trooped out to the restaurant to eat.

When Kutigi tried to bring up the matter again towards the close of the sitting, another commotion ensued as delegates expressed reservations over the request.

A former Minister of Women Affairs and delegate representing elder etatesmen, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, stood up to explain that the  delegates were not asking for the stoppage of food supply because things had improved.

She said, “For the past two days, we have been eating Chinese food. That was why they are all very happy. Delegates are complaining that the food has not been enough because other workers of the National Judicial Institute, venue of the confab, have been joining in sharing the food meant for only 492 delegates.”

But another delegate from the South West, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, also supported Anenih, saying the conference should continue to provide the food but should try and improve on the quality.

He said, “We don’t want monetisation of the food, but what we are saying is that they should improve on the quality of food being served.”