Keyamo – The two chambers of the National Assembly has said the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) will handle the recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians under a special works programme.
They jointly took the same position following motions passed in both chambers.
Moving a motion on the floor of the Senate, the Senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele, said they acknowledge the supervisory role of the ministry, but NDE would implement the programme.
“There is the need to go ahead and cooperate with the executive arm of government under Mr President’s watch to ensure the smooth and full implementation of the programme as provided for in the revised appropriation law passed by the national assembly.
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“That while recognising the supervisory role of the ministry of labour and employment, the senate notes that the need for it in its oversight and further legislative actions in respect of this programme the need to hold the NDE responsible both for the implementation of the programme and surrendering of accounts for monies appropriated by the programme by the national assembly,” Bamidele said.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, had clashed with the lawmakers over how the programme should be handled.
The lawmakers accused Keyamo of hijacking the programme from NDE, while the Minister fired back, saying they were the ones trying to take over the project.
The legislators later said the programme would remain on hold, but Keyamo maintained that they did not have the powers to do so.
Subsequently, President Muhammadu Buhari asked Keyamo to go ahead and warned government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) against disrespecting the national assembly.
Source – https://dailypost.ng/
