The Minister of State, Labour and Employment, has declared
that the National Assembly cannot stop the planned recruitment of Nigerians.
One thousand citizens are to be employed from each of the
774,000 local government areas in Nigeria.
In a statement on Tuesday, Keyamo said in obedience to their
invitation, he appeared before the Joint Committees on Labour of both the
Senate and the House.
The meeting was for briefing on the implementation of the
Special Public Works Programme.
The minister said there was a misunderstanding when they
questioned why he did not privately submit the program to them for vetting
before taking certain steps.
Keyamo said the lawmakers suggested that they ought to have
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. 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.”
Keyamo said he remarked that it was only fair for him to
respond to their position before the press, since their own position was also
made public.
“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.”
Keyamo said National Assembly powers under section 88 of the
1999 Constitution are only limited to investigations, but not give any
directive to the executive.
He noted that a committee or committees of both Houses do
not even have powers to pass binding Resolutions and that they can only make
recommendations to Plenary.
“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.”
The minister 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 declared.
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