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Tag: Keyamo

  • NASS committee right to question Keyamo on modalities for 774,000 jobs – Senate President

    NASS committee right to question Keyamo on modalities for 774,000 jobs – Senate President

    Senate President, Ahmed Lawan on Monday said the Joint Committee of the National Assembly has powers to ask for the modalities for the implementation of the Special Public Works programme of the Federal Government.

    He also insisted that the planned recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians for the Special Public Works programme of the Federal Government remains suspended, until the National Assembly is availed of the necessary explanation regarding the process of selecting the beneficiaries.

    He disclosed that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly within the next two weeks by the executive for consideration and approval.

    The President of the Senate made these remarks during an interactive session with the Senate Press Corps in Abuja.

    Lawan who was asked if the recent disagreement between Keyamo and a National Assembly Joint Committee is not an indication that members of the executive arm of government are not on the same page with the legislature as being claimed said that it is only Buhari that defines the executive and not any of his employees.

    Lawan said: “Let me go to the first question that it appears we are not on the same page with the executive arm of government. Only one person defines the executive arm of government. Any other person there is recruited or appointed to support that one person.

    “That one person is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So if somebody, an employee or an appointee, out of several does something that does not show harmony, it will be unfair and uncharitable to say that the executive arm of government is not on the same page with us.”

    He said that the National Assembly approved and appropriated N52billion for the SPW programme under the supervision of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and that it also has the right to demand to know the processes and procedures through which the programme will be implemented.

    Lawan added: “So our joint committee was right. The Committee was right to ask the questions. We are meant to interrogate the processes through which such programmes will be implemented.

    “The Committee resolved that the programme should be suspended until such explanations are provided on how this programme will be implemented. We stand by that.

    “The National Assembly is saying that programme remains suspended until the executive arm of government comes to explain how they will implement that programme across the states and we insist that we passed the budget for NDE to go and implement because it has the capacity. Our purpose is not just to approve money.

    “We insist that only NDE will implement this programme and even the NDE led by the Minister of Employment and Productivity will have to come and explain to the National Assembly Committees how they will implement the programme.”

    He said that the National Assembly would not have approved and appropriated funds for the SPW if it did not like the programme.

    “For us, we have passed the budget, we have approved it, we are going to support the programme because our constituents will be the beneficiaries and if we didn’t like the programme we would not have passed it.

    “So it would be unfair to say that the executive and us in the legislature are not on the same page because of an action by someone out or among the executive,” he said.

    The President of the Senate added: “I want the press to understand that what the National Assembly is insisting on is in the national and public interest.

    “It is in the national interest that we know what is going on because we passed the N52billion and somebody should explain to us how the processes of selecting the States Selection Committee is, who are the stakeholders, how are they identified and nominated.

    “How are the 1,000 beneficiaries from each Local Government going to be selected, how do we measure the success of the programme, how do we key in to support the executive arm of government to succeed in that respect.

    “So there is nothing that this is an indication that the executive and the legislature are not on the same page.

    “But this is a programme that Nigerians must benefit and we are representatives of Nigerians we want complete understanding of how this programme is going to be implemented.”

  • 774,000 jobs: NASS suspends recruitment exercise over row with Keyamo

    774,000 jobs: NASS suspends recruitment exercise over row with Keyamo

    The National Assembly on Wednesday announced the suspension of the Special Public Works programme under the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    The programme which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and handed over to Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo (SAN) for coordination was meant temporarily absorb 774, 000 vulnerable Nigerians affected by the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] pandemic.

    By the arrangement, 1, 000 Nigerians who would earn N20,000 each on a monthly basis for three months are expected to be recruited in each of the 774 local government areas, of the country.

    The programme was expected to take off in October this year.

    But the nation’s parliament on Wednesday said the programme has been suspended following the disagreement between it and Keyamo on Tuesday.

    The spokesperson for the Senate, Ajibola Basiru, who announced the suspension of the programme at a press conference in Abuja, said the National Assembly has summoned the Minister in charge of the Ministry to appear before the federal legislature, to explain the recruitment modalities.

    He said, “In view of the foregoing, the implementation of the programme shall be on hold pending proper briefing of the National Assembly by the Minister of Labour and Productivity.”

    Recall that the federal lawmakers on Tuesday, walked Keyamo out of a hearing following his refusal to apologise after the legislators accused him of raising his voice against them.

    The incident happened at an investigative hearing organised by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity.

    Members of the joint panel had summoned the Minister and NDE Director-General, Nasiru Argungu, to brief them on steps so far taken to recruit 774,000 personnel across the country.

    Trouble started when lawmakers queried Keyamo for allegedly undertaking lopsided recruitment without the active involvement of the NDE, the agency that got N52bn approval from the National Assembly to implement the programme.

    The argument that ensued afterwards, led to a shouting match between both parties which later degenerated to the forceful exit of Keyamo from the meeting.

  • Just in: Keyamo shuns NASS disapproval, proceeds with N52bn recruitment plan for 774,000 Nigerians

    The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Barr. Festus Keyamo, has vowed to proceed with the implementation of N52 billion plan for the recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians, despite the disapproval from National Assembly.

    Keyamo made the disclosure after the National Assembly’s Joint Committees ordered suspension of the Selection Committees nationwide until the NASS decides how the programme should be run and who should be in those Committees.

    Earlier on Tuesday, Keyamo had engaged members of the National Assembly in a shouting match over the National Directorate of Employment recruitment exercise.

    Watch video:

    Keyamo reaction in full:

    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.

    At this point, I remarked that it was only fair for me to respond to their position before the press, since their own position was also made public. In any case, I remarked that the Nigerian people deserve to know the details of the execution of this all-important programme.

    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.

    I regret to say that their powers under section 88 of the 1999 Constitution is only limited to investigations, but NOT TO GIVE ANY DIRECTIVE TO THE EXECUTIVE.

    A Committee or Committees of both Houses do not even have powers to pass binding Resolutions. They can only make recommendations to Plenary. In this case, even Plenary CANNOT give DIRECTIVES to the Executive.

    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.

  • NASS tackles Keyamo, NDE over N52bn budgeted for recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians

    The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Mr Festus Keyamo, tackled members of the National Assembly on Tuesday over the National Directorate of Employment recruitment exercise.

    There was mil drama after the Director-General of the NDE, Mr. Nasiru Ladan, could not defend the N52 billion budgeted for the recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians under the NDE.

    The minister said his ministry was asked to supervise the recruitments by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd). But the federal lawmakers disagreed with Keyamo.

    Background

    Recall That TheNEwsGuru (TNG) had earlier reported that Keyamo accused some political leaders for trying to hijack the 774,000 Special Public Works Programme recently approved by president Muhammadu Buhari from him.

    The Minister disclosed this while speaking in Abuja yesterday at the inauguration of state selection committees of the federal government’s public works programme.

    He said the 20-member Committees in 36 States and the FCT will select the 1000 persons per LGA that would be engaged by the FG in the Special Public Works Programme.

    Mr Keyamo however warned the state chairmen of the committees not to compromise on the objective of the initiative which aimed at giving the opportunity to the vulnerable people.

    He assured the people that nobody will stop him from doing the right thing and that nobody will take the job from him except President Buhari who appointed him.

    According to Keyamo, “There have been attempts at blackmailing me in this particular programme too to make us also yield to political leaders and we have said no – not while I am here.

    “I have a pedigree, I have a background, I have where I am coming from. Before I came into public office, I have a pedigree and what I stand for.

    “Except Mr. President, who appointed me stops me, and who gave me the opportunity and rare privilege to drive this programme, except he stops me, no other political leader or person can stop me. I am answerable only to Mr. President,” he said.

  • No politician can hijack 774,000 jobs from reaching Nigerians who need them – Keyamo

    The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has said some politicians are blackmailing and pressurising him to enable them determine those to be allotted the 774,000 jobs President Muhammadu Buhari approved recently.

    The 774,000 jobs are within a special public works programme (SPWP) targeted at recruiting 1,000 persons in each of the 774 local government areas to be implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    The programme, which is targeted at creating jobs for unskilled persons in rural areas, will last three months (October to December).

    The workers are expected to clear and protect public infrastructure in rural areas while they earn N20,000 each within the three months.

    Keyamo, who spoke during the inauguration of the states’ selection committee of the project, stressed that majority of the jobs must be allotted to ordinary Nigerians who need them.

    The minister said he would not sacrifice his reputation and principles by going beyond the 10 to 15 per cent allocated to political officers, adding that only President Buhari could make him do otherwise.

    “In the past, it used to be that certain people entrusted with this kind of programmes handed them over entirely to political leaders.

    “There has been an attempt at blackmailing in this particular programme too to make us also yield to political leaders. But we have said no, not while I am here.

    “Except Mr. President, who appointed and gave me the opportunity and rare privilege to drive this programme stops me, no other political leader or person can stop me. I am answerable only to Mr. President. This programme is for all Nigerians,” he said.

    “Before coming here today, there has been an attempt by certain political leaders to say I must come and see them behind the scenes first to determine who gets what and how. I said no, I will not do that. I am ready at any time for a public debate on this with them,” he said.

    Advising the committee chairmen not to allow the process from being hijacked by politicians, Keyamo warned that anyone caught under politicians’ bug would be relieved of the position and replaced immediately.

    He added: “I think the chairmen can stand on their own. Don’t go and meet in any Government House to hold any meeting; don’t go to any politician’s house to do selections. Hold your meetings in NDE offices.

    “The NDE is the one driving this programme; it has coordinators. Keep firm, stand firm. Nobody should be given more than what we allotted to the person.

    “We are going to be strict in allotting to different sectors: civil society, market women. Wait for directives. So, nobody should intimidate the chairmen. I know the chairmen will stand their ground. I am also here to back them up. We are going to remove anybody who is dancing to the tune of anybody and undermining the drive of this programme.

    “All my life, I have fought for good governance. I have gone to court to ensure that things are done right when out of government. That is what gave me my name and pedigree before I came into government. I have a practice to go back to. I want to reach the zenith of my profession.

    “Nobody will come and dictate to me the work that Mr. President told me to do. I cannot come into government and then abandon all the principles I fought for while I was out of government. I will not do that. Any attempt to intimidate or blackmail us here, we will not give in, except Mr. President tells me to stop; then, I will stop.”

  • Keyamo announces criteria for selection of 774,000 Nigerians in FG’s special public works programme

    Keyamo announces criteria for selection of 774,000 Nigerians in FG’s special public works programme

    The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) on Thursday said the selection criteria for the 774,000 Nigerians to be engaged under the Federal Government’s special public works programme will be an open affair to all.

    The Minister also said to avoid a possible hijack, 20 per cent of the entire job slots will be reserved for politicians.

    On how the scheme will gulp, Keyamo said N46.2 billion has been voted for the payment of the 774,000 people to be selected.

    Keyamo revealed this at a press conference in Abuja. According to him government has commenced preparation for the flag-off of the programme immediately the rains are over.

    He said the president has asked the ministry to draw up a budget that will cover cost of equipment and other materials that will be needed for the takeoff of the special public works programme.

    He said: “774 multiplied by 1,000 and then by N20,000 that is N46.2 billion. So the government has allocated N46.2 billion to be used for the payment of the beneficiaries.”

    Keyamo said he had earlier inaugurated a Special Inter-ministerial Committee on the Extended Special Public Works on Wednesday, 29th April, 2020.

    He said the committee sat for several weeks and have proposed a list of projects within their ministries that may require the intervention of the public works programme.

    “Over 3,000 projects and 42,000 manpower are being proposed by them. In a steering capacity, the committee has also made certain recommendations to me.

    “Having reviewed all the recommendations of this Inter-ministerial Committee, I believe that the selection of the beneficiaries and projects should be a local affair and not to be done from a room in Abuja. Consequently, in line with Section 16(1) of the N.D.E Act, I have decided to constitute special committees in each state of the federation for the purpose of deliberating, selecting and recommending to my office the names of the 1,000 persons from each of the local government areas in the states to be engaged for this programme,” he said.

    The minister said committees to be known as the State Selection Committees of the Special Public Works (SPW) would also identify the projects to be executed in those council areas.

    He said that each 20-member committee will comprise a chairman and vice-chairman who will be indigenes of that state or who are ordinarily resident in that state.

    It will include a state co-ordinator of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) of that state who will be the Secretary, and one representative of the governor of that state.

    The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of that state or his representative/nominee, the state chairman of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs or his representative/nominee, state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) or his representative/nominee, market women leader, among other stakeholders are to serve as members of the committees.

    Keyamo said that the state implementation committee is a distinct and separate committee from the state Advisory Committee set up under section 5(2) of the N.D.E Act whose functions are different.

    He also said that all members of the state selection committees would not be persons holding any official position in any of the registered political parties.

    In order to come clean to Nigerians and to be as transparent as possible, Keyamo said that no one outside the committee will be allowed to dictate who should take part in the scheme.

    He said only 20 per cent of the slots will be reserved for political office holders to ensure they do not hijack the laudable programme meant to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.

    When asked about the criteria for choosing the project to be executed, Keyamo said the various committees are to decide on what suits their areas.

    He said that only projects requiring light equipment will be approved for execution under the programme.

    “We cannot sit down here and determine the project to be executed at the various local areas. It is not the intendment,” he said.

    According to Keyamo, the ministry is designing a website to facilitate feedback and monitoring of projects being implemented in the public works programme, adding that the idea is to enable Nigerians to easily reach the ministry on the stages of execution.

    On how to conduct the recruitment of participants into the programme, he said the ministry has reached agreement with selected banks to undertake registration of the participants in the public works programme.

    Earlier, the minister gave an update of the pilot scheme which was approved to be implemented in five local government areas in eight states namely: Adamawa, Borno, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Katsina and Kwara.

    He said that the pilot project had commenced as scheduled in February but was suspended due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

    He said beneficiaries engaged in drainage digging and clearance, irrigation canals clearance, rural feeder road maintenance, maintenance of the Great Green Wall nurseries and orchards in Borno, Jigawa and Katsina States, while others engaged in traffic control street cleaning, cleaning of public infrastructure like health centres, schools and the likes.

    He said that a total of 40,000 direct transient jobs were expected to be created in the eight pilot states.

  • Buhari yet to approve modalities for recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians – Keyamo

    Buhari yet to approve modalities for recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians – Keyamo

    Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo on Friday said President Muhammadu Buhari was yet to approve the modalities for the recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians into special public works programme.

    The minister who made the clarification he personally signed and released noted that the modalities is still a work in progress and relevant consultation are still on with other ministries and agencies of government.

    Keyamo also raised the alarm over fake web portals for recruitment into the programme.

    Recall that the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed on Monday announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the engagement of 774,000 Nigerians on the programme.

    After the announcement, there were different messages on social media on how interested applicants could be part of the programme.

    Keyamo asked the public to disregard the information circulating on the internet, as the government is still working on modalities for the scheme.

    “My attention has been drawn to a certain advertorial circulating on Social Media tilted ‘Application Opens For 774,000 Employment By FG: See Requirements, Salary And How To Apply’,” Keyamo said.

    “As the Supervising Minister over the National Directorate of Employment in which the Special Public Works Programme of the Federal Government is domiciled, and having conferred with the Director-General, Dr. Nasiru Ladan Mohammed Argungu, we wish to alert members of the public that the said advertorial or anything of such presently circulating is fake and should be disregarded.

    “I have just finished consultation with the Hon. Minister of Finance and we are presently working out how the scope of the program would be expanded and executed with other relevant Ministries and stakeholders across the country.

    “The public would be duly informed by this office when all the modalities have been graciously approved by Mr. President.

    “We are also informed of instructions by certain persons going round in some States to the effect that names of those to be employed under the program should be compiled. We also urge these people not to embark on an exercise in futility as the guidelines for such recruitment and those to be involved have not been released by the agency.

  • #WhereisBuhari: Keyamo gives condition for Buhari to address Nigerians over COVID-19 pandemic

    Minister of State for Labour, Productivity and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN on Saturday said President Muhammadu Buhari will not address Nigerians just because some people on social media wants him to.

    Recall that some Nigerians on Twitter had recently launched the #WhereisBuhari campaign insisting that the president must address them with assurances of what is administration is doing and has somebody so far to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

    The minister noted that the team of the seasoned Nigerians appointed by the president on the COVID-19 pandemic are doing their job as expected and should be allowed to do so without unnecessary distractions by some people trying to play politics by demanding that the president himself address Nigerians.

    Keyamo said this on husband verified Twitter handle on Saturday evening. He said the president will only make a formal address when and if the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 deem it fit.

    See his tweets below:

  • Coronavirus punishment from God- Keyamo

    Coronavirus punishment from God- Keyamo

    Festus Keyamo, minister of state, labour and employment, has averred that God allowed coronavirus to afflict humans so they can retrace their steps back to Him.

     

    In a tweet on Thursday, the minister said Nigerians should ask for forgiveness and also follow the directives of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    “God has allowed COVID-19 to afflict the human race only to redirect our steps back to Him,” he tweeted.

     

     

     

    “Aside the spiritual angle to this scourge, we must all work and pray; God can only help those who help themselves. Those our recalcitrant Pastors must realise this. All the directives of
    @NCDCgov must be followed to the letter by all and sundry before it can quickly end in praise.”

     

    Some Twitter users who responded to the minister’s tweet said beyond seeking God’s intervention, the government must also do the needful.

    “Not only asking for forgiveness, but also doing the needful. Pay workers (ASUU and others) their entitlements, provide basic amenities, build infrastructures and protect our territories just like the way Americans do,” Amid Adetayo tweeted.

     

    Oreofeka wrote: “Did China ask for forgiveness before tackling the issue. You guys should get to work and make Nigeria better. Enough of bringing God to your ineptitude governance.”

    Did China ask for forgiveness before tackling the issue. You guys should get to work and make Nigeria better. Enough of bringing God to your ineptitude governance

    — @dspiritual (@oreofekan) March 25, 2020

     

    Disagreeing with the minister’s stance, Oluwagbenga Ajogbonlo, said: “What y’all distorted is our patrimony, our commonwealth, our funds and our sense of belonging. What you and your brothers in Abuja need is to go back to the people and seek for forgiveness.What we need now is a functional healthcare not some bible references.”

    What y’all distorted is our patrimony, our commonwealth, our funds and our sense of belonging. What you and your brothers in Abuja need is to go back to the people and seek for forgiveness.

    What we need now is a functional healthcare not some bible references.

    — Oluwagbenga Ajongbolo (@arakunrinajos) March 25, 2020

     

    Globally, there are 471,820 coronavirus cases with 21,297 deaths.

    US President Donald Trump had announced several measures to curb the spread of the disease.

    On March 12, Trump announced a suspension of travel from Europe to the US in a bid to fight the spread of coronavirus.

     

     

  • Ochei Celebrates Keyamo At 50

    Ochei Celebrates Keyamo At 50

    A leading edge Delta State All Progressives Congress politician, Rt Hon(Engr) Victor Ochei Esq, has felicitated the Minister of state, Labour and Employment Chief Festus Keyamo SAN on his fiftieth birthday anniversary.

    In his congratulatory letter to the Minister of state, Ochei also a former speaker of the fifth Delta state house of assembly stated “I felicitate you on your attainment of the “golden age” on earth, which by all ramifications is worth celebrating, as you have continually impacted the society positively within this span”.

    He further observed that the minister has contributed immensely to the welfare of humanity especially the down-trodden, through his exemplary traits of selflessness, love, patriotism, philanthropy and forthrightness.

    While wishing Chief Keyamo a blissful golden anniversary, Ochei prayed God to avail him of robust health, wisdom and longevity to enable him chalk up more fruitful years to the benefit of mankind.