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President Muhammadu Buhari has asked Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo to proceed with the execution of the special public works programme.
Senior presidential sources confirmed the president’s directive on the programme to TheCable.
Keyamo had come in collision with the National Assembly over the legislature’s insistence on dictating the process of the programme.
The lawmakers had accused the minister of trying to hijack the scheme from the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the implementing agency of the project.
But Keyamo, who appeared before members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Labour on June 30, accused them of seeking to control the implementation of the programme.
The meeting ended in a fiasco when the minister insisted that the parley should be held in the open to the consternation of the NASS members who demanded a closed-door meeting.
Keyamo consequently left in annoyance vowing not to suspend the recruitment as directed by the lawmakers.
He said the legislators acted beyond their powers.
It was gathered that Keyamo met with the president and reeled off his encounter with the National Assembly committee over the programme.
The president was said to be furious, bemoaning the National Assembly’s knack for meddling in matters on the purview of the executive.
He asked the minister to proceed with the execution of the programme and to ensure it is conducted ”strictly according to existing laws.”
Buhari also asked the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to halt any alternative plan on the programme with the National Assembly committee.
Keyamo had inaugurated the committees made up of 20 people in each state which will be in charge of engaging 774,000 citizens in the special works programme.
Nigerians enlisted on the programme are expected to carry out public services such as street sweeping, waste disposal among others. The programme is aimed at engaging young jobless citizens as well as providing a means of sustenance for them.