The leadership of the 20 standing committees of the National Conference has been released with Ibrahim Coomasie, Florence Ita-Giwa, Bola Shagaya, Olu Falae and Rasheed Ladoja heading various committees.
A document released by the conference secretariat on Thursday in Abuja shows that five committees are headed by co-chairmen, while each of the remaining 15 has a chairman and a deputy.
The Committee on Devolution of Power has a former Akwa Ibom governor, Obong Victor Attah, and a former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie, is co-Chairmen.
The committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government has Mr Mohammed Kumalia and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (retd), as co-chairmen.
Similarly, the committee on Politics and Governance has Prof. Jerry Gana and Chief Olu Falae, as co-chairmen.
Mohammedu Gambo Jimeta, a former IGP, and a former Chief of National Intelligence, Chief Albert Horsefall, are chairman and deputy chairman respectively for the Committee on National Security.
Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, heads the Committee on Environment, while Bukar Mandara, is the deputy chairman.
Justice Gabriel Oguntade (rtd) is chairman of the Committee on Law, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Reform, while Prof. Auwalu Yadudu is the deputy chairman.
Iyom Josephine Anenih is chairperson of the Committee on Social Sector which has Prof. Ruqaiyatu Rufa’I, as deputy chairperson.
The Committee on Transportation has Sen. Musa Adede as chairman, while Ralph Osanaiye, a retired IGP, is the deputy chairman.
Dr Daniel Maddo is the chairman of the Committee on Science, Technology and Development, while Chief Raymond Dokpesi is the deputy chairman.
The Committee on Agriculture has Umaru Hadeija as chairman, while Mrs Ifeoma Idigbe is the deputy chairperson.
The Civil Society, Labour and Sports Committee is headed by Mrs Bola Ogunrinade, with Issa Aremu, as her deputy.
The Committee on Public Service is headed by Mrs Ebele Okeke, with Amb. Adamu Aliyu as deputy chairman.
The Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters is headed by Dr Iyorcha Ayu, while Sen. Ken Nnamani is his deputy.
The Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters Committee is chaired by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, while Prof. Lawrence Ekpebu is his deputy.
Land Tenure Matters and National Boundary Committee has Gen. A. B. Mamman (rtd) as chairman, and Oba Michael Adedeji as his deputy.
The Economy, Trade and Investment Committee has Bola Shagaya as chairman, and Fola Adeola as her deputy.
The Committee on Energy is headed by Sen. Rashid Ladoja, while Mr Bello Suleiman is his deputy.
The Committee on Religion is chaired by both Bishop Felix Ajakaiye and Alhaji Nurudeen Lema.
A former Kebbi State governor, Sen. Adamu Aliero and Sen. Azu Agboti head the Committee on Public Finance and Revenue Generation as chairman and deputy respectively.
The Committee on Citizenship, Immigration and Related Matters is headed by Dr Muhammed Abdullahi, while Chidinma Uwajumogu is his deputy.
The Chairman of the Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd), told the delegates shortly after adjourning plenary indefinitely on Thursday that committee work would begin on Tuesday after the Easter break.
The submission of the list of committees members and their leadership generated complaints at plenary from most delegates.
Kutigi told the delegates that 10 of the 20 committees would hold their sessions at the National Judicial Institute, while the other 10 are to sit at the Sheraton Hotel.
The conference agreed through a voice vote that delegates with genuine complaints on the composition of the committees and their leadership should sort it out with the secretariat.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state has clarified the issue surrounding the absence of all the governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a security meeting President Goodluck Jonathan held with governors today. Speaking to newsmen shortly after the two-hour meeting held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Akpabio insisted that he had the right to invite whoever he wished.
The governor who was responding to a question why none of the APC governor was in attendance, said that the President himself had now scheduled an elerged security meeting with all the 36 governors for next week Wednesday at 4.00pm.
He said that today’s meeting was a fallout of the meeting held recently by all the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At today’s meeting were governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state from Labour Party and Enugu state governor, Sulivan Chime of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
A statement issued by special adviser to President Jonathan on media and Publicity yesterday, announcing the meeting today said all the 36 governors were invited.
The statement said that President Jonathan summoned members of the National Security Council, all the governors and security chiefs to series of meetings at the Presidential Villa to find ways out of the security mess.
It said that those expected at the meeting that would take almost the whole day, include Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen Aliyu Gusau, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Services and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency.
The statement said that the meeting of the National Security Council will be followed by an enlarged meeting on security developments in the country to which President Jonathan has invited all the State Governors.
It said that the President, members of the National Security Council and the state governors will review the security situation in the country as well as ongoing national security measures and operations with a view to determining the best way forward.
Governor Akpabio told newsmen that President Jonathan is serious about putting an end to the security challenges in the country by involving all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation.
“We cannot afford to politicize insecurity in this country. All Nigerians must be part of the solution to the problem. We must be our brothers’ keepers.”

Expectedly, Governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state, Rochas Okorocha of Imo state and other governors from All Progressives Congress (APC) were absent today, at a meeting convened by President Goodluck Jonathan to reveiew the security challenges facing the country.
The President initiated the meeting, which began at about 2.00pm today, to involve all the state governors in finding solution to incessant security challenges posed mainly Boko Haram.
The meeting, Presided over by President Jonathan, was attended by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Minister of Defence, Major General Aliyu Gusau, Foreign affairs minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali, Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs.
There were eighten state governors mainly from states Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), two deputy governors. They are Governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Idris Wada (Kogi),
Others include Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Acting Governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar as well as Deputy Governors of Bayelsa and Kebbi states. The Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party walked into the venue of the meeting few minutes after it started.
There were also Director-General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong; Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
President Jonathan had earlier in the day, held a National Security Council meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Security Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Director-General of SSS and Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The President, members of the National Security Council and the state governors are expected to review the security situation in the country as well as ongoing national security measures and operations with a view to determining the best way forward.
The meeting with governors is still in progress….More details later

Nigeria’s minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna has lamented that the Monday bomb explosion in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, the nation’s federal capital territory was a set back for the country.
The minister, in a statement the Head of Press and Public Relations officer in the ministry, Olusola Abiola, condemned the bomb blast and condoled with families of dead victims.
Boni Haruna described the unfortunate incident as a dastardly act, adding “it is a setback which requires the condemnation of all Nigerians.
The minister called on the youths to resist any attempt to be recruited into any group for the purpose of fomenting violent acts, even as he appealed to them to re-channel their energies to more creative ventures towards contributing to the nation’s development.
He said that President Jonathan’s administration is committed towards alleviating the plight of the unemployed youths across the country.
Boni Haruna assured the youths that once the draft Bill for the establishment of a National Youth Development Fund becomes law and operational, they would enjoy job opportunities and wealth.

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed deep regrets on the pain, sorrow and anguish brought upon many Nigerian families in recent days as a consequence of recurring security challenges which the nation is contending with.
This is even as the President has summoned members of the National Security Council, all the governors and security chiefs to series of meetings at the Presidential Villa tomorrow to find ways out of the security mess.
A statement by the Special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that those expected at the meeting that would take almost the whole day, include Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen Aliyu Gusau, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Services and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency.
The statement said that the meeting of the National Security Council will be followed by an enlarged meeting on security developments in the country to which President Jonathan has invited State Governors.
It said that the President, members of the National Security Council and the state governors will review the security situation in the country as well as ongoing national security measures and operations with a view to determining the best way forward.
President Jonathan has, meanwhile, expressed particular concern over the plight of the young Senior Secondary School girls who were reportedly abducted from their school in Borno State on Monday night and has ordered the military and national security agencies to deploy maximum efforts towards rescuing all of the girls and returning them safely to their parents.
He is elated however, by reports that the military and security agencies have already rescued some of the girls, saying that he is convinced that with the patriotic commitment and support of all Nigerians, the country will ultimately overcome its present challenges and move forward in unity and strength.
President Jonathan further reassured all Nigerians and persons living in the country that the Federal Government remains very mindful of its responsibility for the safety of their lives and properties in all parts of Nigeria and will continue to do everything possible to protect them from the scourge of terrorism and insecurity.
He pleaded with politicians in the country to continue to exhibit greater responsibility and patriotism by doing more to support his administration’s sincere efforts to enhance national security rather than trying to build political capital out of the pain and misery of their compatriots.