The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday, said the processes of recruiting 774,000 Nigerians across the 774 local government areas for the 774,000 federal government job has not been suspended.

Barr. Keyamo stated this in a statement made available to Igbere TV, in reaction to the alleged suspension of the FG programme under the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) by the National Assembly, following his disagreement with them.

The minister was earlier in the day walked out of a meeting with the lawmakers, who had invited him to give details of the special public works programme, which aims to engage and pay 774,000 unskilled youths N20,000 for three months.

But in the statement, Barr. Keyamo said the National Assembly lacks the power to suspend the programme. He accused the lawmakers of wanting to dictate and control the programme, saying he would rather quit the job than compromise.

He, therefore, directed all the Selection Committees across the 36 States of the federation inaugurated on Monday, for the 774,000 jobs, to proceed with their work unhindered, saying “only Mr. President can stop their work.”

The statement reads,

“Today, in obedience to their invitation, I appeared before the Joint Committees on Labour of both the Senate and the House. The Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members sought to be briefed on the implementation of the Special Public Works Programme so far.

However, there was a misunderstanding between us when they questioned why I did not privately submit the program to them for vetting before taking certain steps. They suggested that they ought to have an input on how the programme should be implemented. In other words, they sought to control the programme as to who gets what, where and how.

However, I insisted that I could not surrender the programme to their control since their powers under the constitution does not extend to that. They insisted on a closed door session.

At this point, I remarked that it was only fair for me to respond to their position before the press, since their own position was also made public. In any case, I remarked that the Nigerian people deserve to know the details of the execution of this all-important programme.

I was then asked to apologize for insisting on a public interaction and I said there was nothing to apologize about, because their powers to expose corruption provided for in section 88 of the Constitution cannot be exercised in private. As such, there was no need to apologize by insisting on a Constitutional provision. Even their Rules that may provide for private hearings on public matters cannot override the provisions of the Constitution. I was then permitted to leave. I took a bow and left. I NEVER walked out on the respected Committees as they may want to bend the narrative.

After I left, I understand that the Joint Committees purportedly suspended the work of the Selection Committees nationwide until they decide how the programme should be run and who should be in those Committees. My opinion is that it is tantamount to challenging the powers of Mr. President.

I regret to say that their powers under section 88 of the 1999 Constitution is only limited to investigations, but NOT TO GIVE ANY DIRECTIVE TO THE EXECUTIVE.

A Committee or Committees of both Houses do not even have powers to pass binding Resolutions. They can only make recommendations to Plenary. In this case, even Plenary CANNOT give DIRECTIVES to the Executive.

All my life, I have fought for good governance and constitutional democracy. I will not come into government and be intimidated to abandon those principles. I will rather leave this assignment, if Mr. President so directs than compromise the jobs meant for ordinary Nigerians who have no Godfathers or who are not affiliated to any political party.

I therefore, respectfully further direct all the Committees set up nationwide made up of CAN, NSCIA, NURTW, Market Women, CSOS, Youth Organisations, respected traditional rulers, etc to proceed with their work unhindered. Only Mr. President can stop their work.”

https://igberetvnews.com/1356526/drama-senators-walk-minister-festus-keyamo-meeting/

Well said Keyamo. Well said.

Brave man. A lot of those guys in the senate have boys and loyalists to settle with jobs. Infact in Naija once there is a job opening, many applicants abandon their CVs and certificates to begin looking for recommendation letters from high political offices. Oga Minister, just cut all their tickets

Thank God he is now my president.
This why people doesn't want me alive on Nairaland

In as much as I have no problem with the national assembly members having an input as to how the beneficiaries are to be recruited, I am against their desire to control or determine who gets the employment because their only aim is to make sure that only their loyalist benefit from it why the targeted persons are left out. Our legislatures to me are our biggest problem

Nigeria shall be great

I never knew we still had such men with high integrity

It shall be well with all of you reading this,

from today you all shall be blessed without measures!

Your cups shall flow unimaniginably well!

Op you shall live a ripe fruitfull old age,
your life is blessed

you guys need more blessings!
And indeed you will get it
amen!

peace!

I stand with Keyamo on this. Even though I don't agree with a lot of his previous political positions, Keyamo has shown that he will fight for what he believes in irrespective of whose ox is gored.

Principled people like this are hard to find in our political space.

White Elephant recruitment

Well said SAN You accused someone in public and wants him to respond in a closed-session lmao
So the senate committee also wants to suspend a minister from doing his job?? Nigeria sha
They couldn't even wait to pass the recommendation to the floor.

Nigeria my country

The fact about this country is dat the politicians hate d masses...... Shikena!!!

another drama in d making

Bunch of rouges...suspend ko, suspend ni

The House of Representatives have met their match!

Useless bunch of people.

Both the Senate and the HoR needs to be disbanded.

They contribute to the problem of this country....without even considering the their massive pay.

Where are those who called out Saraki in the last administration?

Oh, you have suddenly lost your voices, huh?

They wanted to hijack the process but we will not take it

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Lawmakers wey no sabi provisions of the law...
Custom dem hijack,police dem hijack,ministries dem hijack dem still wan hijack poor man business.

Sad

Good move by a brave man

Imagine if every senator and politician has this man's bravery. This country would have been better.

Them suppose exchange blow!! To show how serious they are.

20k jobs that would last for only three months? That's why they want to fight. Is that what they would use to settle their boys? That's rubbish.

He knows his onions... He is a SAN he understands the Nitty gritty

before wetin concern dem concern the work