A row has developed between the National Assembly and the Ministry of Labour and Employment over the implementation of a scheme which would create 774,000 jobs across the country
A breakdown of the figure shows that 1000 unemployed persons from each of the 774 local government areas in the country would be captured under the programme.
While the National Assembly insists the scheme ought to have been brought to parliament for vetting before implementation, the Ministry argued that to accede to such a demand would likely take away control of the scheme from the executive arm of government.
The atmosphere in the committee room where the Minister of State of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo was invited to appear before the joint committee of both houses of the National Assembly was unusually charged.
Trouble further escalated when the Minister who stated that the issue was of great public interest showed preference for an open instead of a closed door hearing.
He said he would want press cameras in on the discussion, a position which infuriated federal lawmakers.
Angry lawmakers rose from their seats and engaged in a shouting match with the Minister who refused to yield his grounds.
Said Keyamo in a, statement which he released to the media, “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.”
Our Correspondent reports that disagreements between the executive and the legislature are not unusual.
Meanwhile, the Joint Committee of both houses ordered members of the job selection body set up by the Ministry to suspend work.
But Keyamo in his statement countered the instruction, saying, “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.”
Federal lawmakers shocked by the allegation made by the Minister that a percentage of the impending jobs have been conceded to them have denied making any such demand from the Ministry.
As things are, the last has not been heard of the differences that have brought both the lawmakers and Keyamo into the public space.
Nigerians whose interests are at the centre of the row that has erupted have joined in the debate on Twitter and Facebook.