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Tag: Festus Keyamo

  • Olu of Warri: Violence should not be an option – Keyamo tells Itsekiris

    Olu of Warri: Violence should not be an option – Keyamo tells Itsekiris

    The Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Olorogun Festus Keyamo has advised Itsekiri people not to take the path of violence in addressing issues arising from the selection of Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko as Olu of Warri designate.

    Olorogun Keyamo, who is the representative of Delta State in the Federal Executive Council, stated this while commiserating with the Itsekiris on the passage of their revered monarch, the immediate past Olu, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli.

    As one of the leaders of the Bar and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Keyamo advised those aggrieved to either accept the decision in good faith in the overall interest of the Itsekiri Kingdom and Delta State or have recourse to due process and legal avenues in ventilating their dissent.

    “A resort to violence cannot be an option,” the Minister of State, Labour and Employment was quoted to have said in a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Community Affairs, M. E. Ukusare.

    The statement reads: “The Minister of State, Labour and Employment and representative of Delta State in the Federal Executive Council, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, SAN, commiserates with the Itsekiris worldwide on the passage of their revered monarch, the immediate past Olu, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli. He prays for the repose of his soul.

    “The Minister equally congratulates the new Olu-designate, Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, as announced by the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom. He looks forward to hitch-free coronation ceremonies whilst praying for God’s guidance and a successful reign on the exalted throne.

    “The Minister also notes the dissent expressed by some on the issue. As one of the leaders of the Bar and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, advises those aggrieved to either accept the decision in good faith in the overall interest of the Itsekiri Kingdom and Delta State or have recourse to due process and legal avenues in ventilating their dissent. A resort to violence cannot be an option”.

  • Keyamo, Ibori grace Igbuya’s father’s 10 years remembrance

    Keyamo, Ibori grace Igbuya’s father’s 10 years remembrance

    The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Olorogorun Festus Keyamo SAN, former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and Chief Ighoyota Amori honoured former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and chieftain of APC, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya as he marked the 10th year anniversary of his late father, Dcn E. A Igbuya.

    On the entourage of the Honourable Minister and prominent leader of Delta State APC are the following dignitaries and chieftains of APC across Delta State: Prince Sam Kowho, Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi, Hon. Jaro Egbo, Queen Betty Efekodha, Michael Ukusare Esq, Mr. Collins I. Mukoro, Chief Tony Erukeme, Chief Uyoyou Edhekpo, Mr. Oscar Owala, Mr. Jerry Uloho, Mr. Sylvester Akpojete, Chief Elvis Oharisi, Chief Dr. Mrs Oyubu, Chief Abugeh, Mr. Clement Adjuwheruduvwu, Princess Benedicta Dafiaghor and Mrs Ese Obrike

    Others include Chief Mathias Olowu, Sir Moses Okagbare (KSM), Dr. Mark Osah, Chief Israel Ogidigben (JP), Mrs Elohor Eyide, Mr. Jawin Keyamo, Mr. Emmanuel Etito, Mr. Otega Osievwe, Mc Paul, Oviri Kelvin Ozed, Ifati Martins Luther, Mr. Kingsley Dafeoghor, Mr. Philip Emebosa, Mr. Omosievwe David, Mr. Nick Omoshue, Chief Abuge Harrison, Captain Victor Sota, Mrs Eseoghene Dora, Mr. Okpako Ojegba, Mr. Onoriode Ebresafe, Mr. Alfred Ejayeta, Onuero Joy, Mr. Ogaga Agere, Mr. Erememrena Superior, Mr. Festus Oghuvwu, Mr. Kelvin Oghuvwu, Dr. Ejenebo David, Comr. Ambrose Evughaye, Mr.Charles Uviemu and wife, Mercy Akoreh, Oghenenyerovwo Dafiaghor, among others too numerous to mention.

    The vibrant Deputy State Chairman of APC Caretaker Committee, Engr. Elvis Ayomanor and Sapele APC were fully on ground to receive the Honourable Minister, Festus Keyamo SAN and his entourage.

    See photos below:

  • APC exercise: Keyamo warns against skewed process in Delta

    APC exercise: Keyamo warns against skewed process in Delta

    The Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has warned against skewing the All Progressives Congress (APC) membership revalidation in Delta State.

    In a letter addressed to all members of the Delta State APC registration committee and copied the National Chairman of the party, Mai Mala Buni, and other leaders of the party, Keyamo stressed members of the committee must tread with caution.

    He vowed to mobilize all other leaders of like minds in the State to reject the committee and call for its total disbandment if the process is skewed.

    The letter by Keyamo reads: “As you are set to distribute your materials to the LGA coordinators on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, you must bear in mind the need to balance all the delicate interests within the APC in Delta State in such a way that you don’t put the entire materials meant for any LGA in the hands of two coordinators solely nominated by a particular political leader in the State, including myself.

    “That will be unfair, unjust and unacceptable and will be a recipe for chaos in the State. My sources tell me that this is exactly what you plan to do. You need to stop.

    “The evolution of APC in Delta State is unique to the extent that a clear Party leader has not emerged under whom everyone have agreed to congregate. At least, no such decision has been taken by stakeholders in Delta State.

    “I can say this confidently because I am a founding member and a leader of the Party in the State. The fact that the stakeholders have not been able to do this is a testament to the different tendencies that exists within the Party in the State.

    “Whilst we all respect and defer to positions of authority that some of us have been privileged to assume at the national level, political leadership back home is a different ball game.

    “As a result of this, all Party faithfuls throng after different leaders in the State. It is therefore imperative that these different leaders and their supporters have EASY access to these materials for registration.

    “This will not happen if you put the materials in any LGA only in the hands of a PARTICULAR tendency within the Party. Since we are not using the Party structures to drive the process, then you must fall back on these leaders and their nominees to drive the process.

    “Even as Minister representing the entire State in the Federal Cabinet, I am not asking for any undue advantage: I am only asking for fairness and equity to be administered to everyone.

    “You are therefore advised to first identify the leaders (like you have done in the last few days). Ensure that no one leader has TWO nominees in ANY PARTICULAR LGA. Also ensure that there is no much disparity between the number of nominees the leaders nominate for the exercise in all the LGAs.

    “I know that you, like all the members of the Committee, were nominated to serve by certain leaders. I also nominated a member. It is an open secret. No need to play the ostrich. However, we understand that unwholesome pressure has been mounted on you to sideline all other members of the Committee in the discharge of your assignment. Perhaps this led to the abrupt resignation of the erstwhile Secretary. However, may I respectfully remind you that regardless of who nominated you, is time to serve the Party and not individual interests.

    “If you skew the process to favour a particular person/leader, I will be mobilising all other leaders of like minds in the State to reject your Committee and call for its total disbandment. I rest my case”.

  • FG commences 774,000 jobs programme with distribution of wheelbarrows, head pans

    FG commences 774,000 jobs programme with distribution of wheelbarrows, head pans

    The federal government (FG) has distributed wheelbarrows, head pans and other equipment to unemployed youths as the Expanded Special Public Works Programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration commenced on Tuesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Minister of State, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo officially flagged off the Special Public Works Programme, the 774,000 jobs for the South-South Geopolitical zone at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Asaba, capital of Delta State.

    In his keynote address, Keyamo, who was represented by the Executive Director, Cabotage Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, said the Extended Special Public Works Programme is an outcome of the Pilot Special Public Works Programme in the rural areas approved by President Buhari and implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    He said the programme was aimed at shielding the most vulnerable from the ravaging effects of COVID-19 pandemic, which he said include pervasive hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and joblessness.

    “Although the Expanded Special Public Works (ESPW) is an ephemeral strategy to last for three months, 5th January-4th April 2021.

    “I am convinced that it will provide the necessary economic palliatives to these 774,000 unemployed youths.

    “Let me emphasise that the youth who diligently participate in this project implementation may then deploy the knowledge and skills acquired to become self-employed while government and the organised private sector may in due course create or provide exit options,” he said.

    At the flagging off event, Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa commended the Federal Government on the commencement of the Expanded Special Public Works Programme in the country.

    Represented by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, Governor Okowa expressed excitement on the commencement of the Programme adding that the program will help curb unemployment in the country.

    He advised the beneficiaries to see the opportunity as their little beginning while looking to the unveiling of similar projects to engage more Nigerians out of poverty.

    He enjoined the 25,000 beneficiaries in Delta to see this as an opportunity to grow the economy of the state and nation.

    “Here in Delta we have also engaged several youths into our various jobs creation platforms. We have scaled this up by engaging over five ministries in this regard.

    “We look forward to much more collaborative efforts between the Federal Government and the State Government.

    “Let me appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for not making this project and program a political one because hunger and poverty do not know political party.

    “When you check the economic effects of this programme, you will appreciate the fact that in Delta alone, 25, 000 indigenes are benefiting from the programme.

    “When you also look at the multiplier effect of N20,000 per 1,000 beneficiaries across the 774 local government areas bringing the number to the 774,000 persons you’re talking about N15 billion naira being put into the Nigerian economy currently in the hands of the poorest of the poor,” Governor Okowa stated.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Acting Director General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Mallam Abubakar Fikpo ,said the programme was a significant step in Nigeria’s quest to win the war against mass unemployment as well as to ameliorate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.

    Represented by the Delta State Coordinator of the NDE, Mr Anthony Olu said the Extended Special Public Works (SPW) programme was designed as a veritable tool through which the lives of 774,000 unemployed Nigerians will be positively touched in the next three months.

    He said beyond the monetary compensation to the beneficiaries, the communities will receive a facelift through the activities of the participants as they will engage in various community and environment specific works activities ranging from, drainage clearing and maintenance, vegetation control, feeder roads maintenance, irrigation, great green wall and orchard maintenance among others.

    In his goodwill message, Chairman Delta State Selection Committee, Professor Kelly Ejumudo, congratulated the participants for being selected and urged them to save from the little earnings to make life better for themselves.

    He said the programme was geared towards benefiting the public adding that no government can totally eliminate poverty but every government must take concrete actions to reduce cycle of poverty.

  • Zamfara gold: Only a bastard won’t support resource control – Festus Keyamo

    Zamfara gold: Only a bastard won’t support resource control – Festus Keyamo

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has said any Niger Delta son that does not support resource control and fiscal federalism is a bastard of the region.

    Keyamo made the statement on Tuesday as Governors of the South South and leaders of the region met to state their position on the sales of gold by the Zamfara State Government to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the leaders of the South South region dropped 7 demands on the federal government at the stakeholders meeting that held at the Government House in Port Harcourt with a Federal Government in attendance.

    In his remarks Keyamo said, “The Federal Executive Council has approved the Coastal Rail line from Lagos to Calabar. The loan for the coastal Rail line from Lagos to Calabar is actually being processed now.

    “The other Rail line from Bonny to Maiduguri which is the Eastern flank has also been approved. That rail line begins from Bonny to Owerri, Makurdi and all the way to Maiduguri and the loans are being processed right now with the Chinese.

    “Congratulations to Governor Okowa because the rails incidentally will begin from Warri and it will either go east west or west west but it will certainly begin from Warri.

    “As for the Ports, Governor Okowa mentioned the issue of the deep sea port and as we speak here, I can show you a message from the MD of RCCI, the contract has been awarded already for the Warri port. It is the deep sea port that they want to establish in Warri.

    “For you to have a deep seaport you need at least 14 meters deep of water but the old Warri Port is about 8 meters deep and it will cost about $100 million dollars to dregde.

    “So what we want to do is that we have been mandated to work with traditional rulers like Olu of Warri and others to try and get a location that is at least close to 14 meters deep and that is where I will beg my brother the Hon Minister of Petroleum, because the channel to go in is also barricaded by the NNPC pipelines and some of them are obsolete so we are thinking of sinking or relocating the pipes for the ships to come in because the pipes are already under the water.

    “In a few days time, myself and the Chinese people will leave for Warri to make some of those investigations. Pessu was actually pencilled down for the port but it is 8 meters deep and I am sure Governor Okowa knows about this.

    *We are all part of the same region, I’m Urhobo like most of you here and when they tell you that the Federal Government should not take loan, tell them that they are taking loans to build railways in other parts of the country, so let us take loan to build our own too so don’t oppose it, we should build our own too with the Chinese loan as well.

    “My elder brother Professor G. G. Darah, let me add to your demands because being here today, also part of you too, making demands from the Federal Government.

    “You didn’t mention the Warri airport which is also very important. Shoreline that was managing the Warri Airport couldn’t pay up all its bills to FAAN. So the Federal Government had to take over the Warri airport, and some of us pursued it here and credit must be given to the Minister of Petroleum and myself because we pursued it all the way.

    “A proposal has been written to the Federal Government for the Ministry of Petroleum to take over the Warri Airport and the President has approved that.

    “They are working on it now and in the next few weeks the Warri Airport will become functional again.

    “So on a last note, I want to say that most of the demands if not all the demands of Governor Okowa as a child of the region who was born and bred in the region, I also support those demands because it is only a bastard who is not born of a father from the Niger Delta that will not support those demands.

    “It is not because we are here today. We will come back home tomorrow and any Niger Delta son that does not support resource control and fiscal federalism is a bastard of the region.

    “So we support it. But I must caution that it must be a collective effort. Do not think that it is the fault from this government. It has always been there. Our son was President. A southerner was President as a Yoruba man.

    “Luckily for us, the Deputy Senate President is the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee. Let us take our demands there, let us go and fight our case there.

    “Nobody should dall for the narrative that it is President Muhammadu Buhari that caused the problem why they have not amended the constitution.

    “Let us take all our demands there and let us go and fight it there”.

  • I lost my driver to Abuja #EndSARS protest – Keyamo

    I lost my driver to Abuja #EndSARS protest – Keyamo

    The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has said that one of his drivers died as a result of the #EndSARS demonstration in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He said that the driver, Mr. Yohanna Shankuk, was hit by a vehicle around the Berger area of Abuja.

    According to the minister, the driver died as a result of the protest by youths against police brutality and extortion in the country.

    Keyamo made this known via his Twitter handle on Thursday.

    He tweeted, “I regret to announce that my driver, Mr. Yohanna Shankuk, died yesterday in Abuja as a result of the protests.

    “A vehicle that saw advancing protesters at Berger roundabout, made a U-turn, took the one-way back and ran over him as he was making his way on foot to my private office.”

    The minister earlier claimed that the unending #EndSARS protest rocking the country is becoming a mob action.

    According to him, some criminal elements have mixed with honest protesters to unleash terror on citizens and members of the Nigeria Police Force.

     

  • BVN to determine payment of stipends for 774,000 Jobs – FG

    BVN to determine payment of stipends for 774,000 Jobs – FG

    The Federal Government says that successful applicants for the 774,000 jobs slot, under the Extended Special Public Works Programme, will be paid through bank accounts, using Bank Verification Numbers (BVN).

    Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said at a news conference he jointly addressed with Director-General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr Nasir Ladan, on Thursday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Extended Special Public Works Programme is designed to employ 1,000 unskilled workers in each of the 774 Local Government Areas for road rehabilitation, construction, sanitation, among others.

    Keyamo said that government settled for the measure to entrench a system of transparency and to avoid double payments to applicants during the implementation.

    He said that biometrics of successful applicants would be captured by the banks during the process.

    According to him, arrangements with the banks will be concluded in the next few days to ensure that there is transparency in the process.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has given a clear directive for this programme to be totally free of fraud, everybody will be paid by a bank account and BVN.

    “You must not only have a bank account you must have a BVN so you cannot be paid twice. You cannot open an account under two different names.

    “Everybody’s biometrics will be taken by the banks to ensure that you don’t have two different accounts. Within the next few weeks we will do that.

    “We are going to conclude with the banks to ensure that we are transparent and the banks will tell Nigerians exactly how they want to go about this in all the local governments in the country,” he said.

    The minister noted that there would be implementation of state selection committees at different levels to ensure proper documentation of those being selected.

    He also said that the different selection committees would work closely with the banks.

    ”They will also select the projects to be done and will supervise the different works that will be done in the various local governments.

    “In other words, we do not want to give people money, sit down in Abuja and assume that the community services are going on everywhere.

    “We are going to have people on the ground, implementation committee supervising the work.

    “Over the next few days the director-general and myself will put our synergise and announce these committees across the country,” the minister stated.

    Ladan said that the agency was ready to start implementation of the programme.

    “The selection committees have sent their reports to us and we have made some corrections and adjustments and we are good to go.

    “As far as I am concerned, issue of special public works is fully ready. We believe the Oct. 1, date as a reality.

    The programme is expected to gulp N52 billion which will go into payment of the participants at N20,000 per month for three months and other logistic arrangements.

    The programme, approved by Buhari, is aimed principally at recuriting 774,000 itinerant and unskilled Nigerians.

    The exercise is expected to begin in October and end in December.

  • Ex-NDDC Boss clarifies Keyamo’s involvement in water hyacinth contract

    Ex-NDDC Boss clarifies Keyamo’s involvement in water hyacinth contract

    The former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joy Nunieh, has absolved the former Minister of State for NDDC, Festus Keyamo, of involvement in the controversial water hyacinth contract.

    She made the clarification in Abuja on Friday after appearing before the Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating the operations of the commission.

    Nunieh, however, insisted that the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio got a total of 30 water hyacinth contracts from the NDCC shortly after he was inaugurated as minister.

    “I can tell the world that Godswill Akpabio got 30 contracts to clear water hyacinth in the Niger Delta region shortly after he was inaugurated as minister.

    “The then Minister of State, Festus Keyamo, was however not involved in the said contract and there are documents to show how the contracts were given.

    “No contract is awarded and or payment made in the NDDC without the knowledge of Godswill Akpabio.

    “I stand by everything I said at the National Assembly and I want Nigerians to know that I was removed from the NDDC because I refused to swear an oath of loyalty to Godswill Akpabio.

    “I also refused to do his biddings and that led to serious disagreement between the two of us. I stood my ground and refused to use my position as MD to satisfy the financial gluttony of Godswill Akpabio and that was why he removed me from office.”

  • 774,000 jobs: El-Rufai backs Keyamo in ‘battle’ against NASS

    774,000 jobs: El-Rufai backs Keyamo in ‘battle’ against NASS

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has backed the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo against the National Assembly (NASS).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Keyamo has been embroiled in altercations with the NASS over the 774, 000 Special Public Works of the Federal Government.

    Governor El-Rufai believes that Keyamo “is a dedicated patriot” and “a good man whose directions, decisions and actions are guided by public interest and concern for the voiceless”.

    Recall that the Senate Committee on Labour had in a meeting with the Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Ministers of Labour declared that the earlier proposal on implementation of the project presented by Keyamo was null and void.

    However, Keyamo argued that the Constitution empowers his office to supervise the execution of the Special Public Works Programme of the Federal Government.

    He further stated that the directive by the National Assembly as to the execution of the project was not binding on him.

    “This is a great Constitutional issue that will go to the Attorney-General at the end of the day for interpretation.

    “Just like I said, if the Presidency says I should step aside and allow them hijack the process, because the game as you have seen today is simply that they are conniving with certain functionaries of government to design the programme and hijack it against the wishes of Nigerians, then that is it.

    “That is what I have been against, and I will continue to stand by that. They are very distinguished members, but the law is the law, and our Constitution is the Constitution,” Keyamo stated in an interview.

  • 774,000 jobs: NASS members, Keyamo in rowdy meeting [Photo]

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo was on Tuesday in a stormy session with a joint committee meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    The lawmakers had invited Keyamo to give details of the Special Public Works Programme where 774,000 people would be recruited by the Federal Government under the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    The employment will be for three months, from October till December.

    During the meeting which was held at the National Assembly in Abuja, members of the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Labour sought to find out the method of selection of a 20-man committee from each state for the programme.

    However, a heated argument erupted between committee members and Keyamo over who should head the programme which was to be domiciled under the NDE.

    A rowdy session followed.

    The committee decided to go into a closed-door session to discuss the matter, but the minister refused, insisting that further discussions be held in the presence of journalists.

    This enraged the lawmakers who told Keyamo to apologise to the committee, but he refused insisting on replying to the allegations made by the members against him before journalists.

    Thereafter, the minister was asked to leave the meeting since he refused to apologise to the committee members.

    The lawmakers, who had wanted to decide who the beneficiaries of the employment programme should be, claimed that Keyamo had no right to direct the committee on how to conduct its proceedings.

    This comes a day after the minister inaugurated a 20-man committee in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by virtual means.

    According to him, 1,000 persons would be selected from each of the 774 local government areas in the country to be engaged by the government in the Special Public Works Programme.