Secret Reason Legislators Want Keyamo’s Head

By Chuks Ekpeneru

Attempts to hijack the Special Public Works Programme which seeks to recruit a total of 774,000 Nigerians across the country may have pitched the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo against the National Assembly this week when they walked him out during a heated session when he came to brief them.

The programme will employ 1,000 Nigerians in each of the nation’s 774 local government areas (LGA) in the country from October to December for road rehabilitation, construction, sanitation, among other jobs.

It is due to be implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and beneficiaries would be paid a total of N60,000 each, that is, N20,000 per month.

Also, a huge N52 billion has been budgeted for the recruitment exercise.

The Joint Committees on Labour of both the Senate and the House had demanded that Keyamo discuss the programme in camera.

The Minister however rejected insisting on open deliberation.

The action of Keyamo has been lauded by some Nigerians who feel the NASS was out to hijack the programme.

A source close to the Minister said he offered the legislators 16000 slots but they were demanding 25%.

According to the source, the demand to know more about the project may be a smokescreen to hijack.

The legislators couldn’t hide their anger as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity, Godiya Akwashiki, accused Keyamo of trying to use the programme to build a political structure for himself across the country.

Keyamo is unrelenting as he threatened to abandon the assignment for the lawmakers if it came to that.

“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,” he added.

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