The Senate and the House of Representatives, have on Wednesday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the implementation of the plan to recruit 774,000 Nigerians for Special Public Works, SPW, across the country,
The position of both Chambers of the National Assembly, followed a sharp disagreement between the National Assembly Joint Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on Tuesday, over the modalities for appointing the 20-member Selection Committee for the SPW programme.
Keyamo who had appeared at an interactive session organised by the Joint Committee, opposed a resolution of the Joint Committee to resolve into a closed-door session.
The Minister said that he rejected the Lawmakers’ decision to quiz him behind closed-doors, because of the need to ensure transparency and accountability.
However, the Senate on Wednesday, held an Executive session, apparently to deliberate on the fiasco between the Minister and the Lawmakers.
It was learnt that during the closed session which lasted for about 2-hours, the Lawmakers expressed shock at the behaviour of Keyamo, and his assertion that the National Assembly cannot direct him on what to do concerning the recruitment.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in a statement, insisted that the implementation of the programme must be put on hold, until its modalities are explained to the National Assembly.