27th June, 2014
The National Conference on Thursday approved the recommendation that government at all levels should not fund political parties, emphasising that the constitutions of parties must provide democratic means of electing leaders.
The conference also prohibited unofficial use of government assets such as cars, guest houses, halls among others.
The recommendation was made while adopting the report of the Committee on Politics and Governance in Abuja.
According to the report, this measure will discourage the use of government assets for unofficial duties and ensure strict adherence to the rule of law among political office holders and public servants.
Addressing the issue of poverty and social insecurity, the conference adopted that political space should be expanded to accommodate more women and persons living with disabilities, often disadvantaged because of affluence.
Also, it approved that traditional rulers should keep out of politics while the role of traditional institutions should be recognised as advisory in the constitution.
While the conference approved the involvement of traditional institutions in matters of tradition, culture and dispute resolution, it however, turned down their involvement in boundary adjustment.
It was equally recommended that the responsibility of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) should be transferred from the Federal Ministry of Justice to the National Human Rights Commission to ensure compliance.
It further voted that FOIA should be reviewed to make it more workable and accessible in order to educate the populace about its content.
The conference also voted in favour of the provision of adequate resources to the NHRC to create and maintain a data base on violence.