Keyamo Bows to Pressure, Writes N’Assembly on 774,000 Jobs
Minister of State for Labour, Mr. Festus Keyamo, Monday bowed to pressure and submitted a letter to the National Assembly detailing the modalities on the employment of 774,000 Nigerians under National Directorate of Employment (NDE) scheme.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of the House Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Muhammad Ali Wudil had insisted last week that the programme should be put on hold until the Labour Ministry submitted the criteria for engaging the personnel.
Keyamo explained he made up his mind to write the lawmakers in view of the allegations against him that he had breached unknown rules in the selection of committee members.
He wrote, ”However, I have decided to make a written submission on issues surrounding the programme to the joint committee ahead of my appearance this time for the following reasons. It is also to avoid a situation where any attempt to fully express myself during the session or to call in aid provisions of the law and the constitution as the basis of some of my actions so far may be misinterpreted as an affront to the joint committee.
“I would rather express those thoughts here and keep a dignified silence if some of those issues become points of contention again. This is because as a trained lawyer and a member of the Inner Bar (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria), and having sworn to uphold the constitution as a public officer, I would be doing a great disservice to my primary constituency (the legal profession) and to my God-given conscience if I am made to concede issues that I know are constitutionally, legally and morally wrong just to let things go on.
”Finally, because the main purpose of your powers of investigation under section 88 of 1999 Constitution is to ‘expose corruption, inefficiency and waste’, it is important we lay bare our plans for the programme publicly. ‘Exposure’, to my mind, will require a public inquiry, not a private one, if we must keep strictly to the provisions of the constitution. Therefore, my writing in advance will absolve me of any accusation of impertinence as I most respectfully regret to say that I would be unable to say anything outside of these submissions in any closed door session.
”As this is not an investigative hearing, I assume that you would properly inform me if you want to do any of such and give me the full rights of fair hearing (including giving me the opportunity to confront any witness) as provided for in section 36 of the 1999 Constitution before reaching a decision that may affect my civil rights or obligations.”
Keyamo how said he is not likely to get fair hearing from the Chairman, explaining that this was because he was the one in the forefront of dictating how the programme would be run in secret.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of the House Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Muhammad Ali Wudil had insisted last week that the programme should be put on hold until the Labour Ministry submitted the criteria for engaging the personnel.
Keyamo explained he made up his mind to write the lawmakers in view of the allegations against him that he had breached unknown rules in the selection of committee members.
He wrote, ”However, I have decided to make a written submission on issues surrounding the programme to the joint committee ahead of my appearance this time for the following reasons. It is also to avoid a situation where any attempt to fully express myself during the session or to call in aid provisions of the law and the constitution as the basis of some of my actions so far may be misinterpreted as an affront to the joint committee.
“I would rather express those thoughts here and keep a dignified silence if some of those issues become points of contention again. This is because as a trained lawyer and a member of the Inner Bar (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria), and having sworn to uphold the constitution as a public officer, I would be doing a great disservice to my primary constituency (the legal profession) and to my God-given conscience if I am made to concede issues that I know are constitutionally, legally and morally wrong just to let things go on.
”Finally, because the main purpose of your powers of investigation under section 88 of 1999 Constitution is to ‘expose corruption, inefficiency and waste’, it is important we lay bare our plans for the programme publicly. ‘Exposure’, to my mind, will require a public inquiry, not a private one, if we must keep strictly to the provisions of the constitution. Therefore, my writing in advance will absolve me of any accusation of impertinence as I most respectfully regret to say that I would be unable to say anything outside of these submissions in any closed door session.
”As this is not an investigative hearing, I assume that you would properly inform me if you want to do any of such and give me the full rights of fair hearing (including giving me the opportunity to confront any witness) as provided for in section 36 of the 1999 Constitution before reaching a decision that may affect my civil rights or obligations.”
Keyamo how said he is not likely to get fair hearing from the Chairman, explaining that this was because he was the one in the forefront of dictating how the programme would be run in secret.
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