By Patrick Andrew
Delegates to the National Conference have opted to forgo their lunch during this month of Ramadan in solidarity with their Muslim colleagues following a resolution to that effect yesterday.
The conference resolved on monetization instead of the usual lunch following a motion for an amendment of the Order that provided for the lunch was adopted.
The chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, had proposed the amendment which sought to have a register opened for those that would have to skip lunch because of the Ramadan fasting.
The chairman had asserted that the proposal was essentially to allow delegates observing the Ramadan to have their lunch monetized. However, other delegates argued that rather than monetized the lunch for Muslim faithfuls alone, all delegates should benefit from the monetization.
“We are aware that many of us will be fasting and will not take lunch here. As such, we will open a register so that those who will not take lunch will be paid,” the chairman said stressing that the resort to that was to compensate the Muslim faithfuls.
But Sergeant Awuse, though supporting the proposal sought to amend it to state that delegates forfeit lunch for monetization.
“We should scrap lunch completely so that people who are not fasting will not write their names. We can do without lunch. We can manage and support those who are fasting by doing without lunch,’’ he said.
According to him, rather than opening a register, the lunch should be completely scrapped and monetized in solidarity with their colleagues who are exercising their religious piety.
He said the faithfuls are sure to pray for the unity, peace and progress of the country noting it would be an expression of love for all delegates to forgo lunch for just a month as a way of seeking divine favour in their quest to proffer solutions for the nation’s myriads of problems.
Further, he said this would prevent a situation where those who were not observing Ramadan would take advantage of the opportunity to request for monetization of their lunch.
The amended proposal was unanimously adopted though there was neither a seconded nor a counter motion or even a voice vote to that effect.
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