National Confab: Tea for Delegates

In response to requests and complaints by delegates, the secretariat yesterday provided tea at the venue. However, no sooner had the secretariat announced the provision of tea entertainment, than tea area became another arena for debate. 

Many of the delegates abandoned their seats to go behind to drink the tea and gradually the place became another talk-shop, where delegates interacted and expressed their views.

The lure to the tea area was also because the Rules of Proceedings governing the conference restraining laughing, clapping and possibly jeering had no place out there. 

the concern was that from the way the tea area was gaining popularity, it might sooner than later compete with time and space with original plenary sessions held inside the hall.  On Monday, some delegates came back from their launch break fuming with anger over poor arrangement made for their food.

They complained that despite the assurances by the secretariat, the food being provided was still grossly inadequate. They also demanded that water and tea be made available at the conference venue so that whoever is feeling tasty can quench the taste without having to go a distance to do so. 

In the same vein, most of the journalists boycotted the secretariat-sponsored launch because they were prevented from being served unless after the delegates have had theirs. However, the Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi quickly intervened when one of the delegates tried to raise it at the plenary and promised that the matter will be taken up by the secretariat.

Source: Thisday