The minister’s appearance before the Joint Committees on Labour of both the Senate and House of Representatives ended on a rowdy note.
Speaking with newsmen after the session, he said that the provisions in Section 88 of the 1999 constitution, only allows the NASS Committees to investigate executive process and not to impose their will on other arm of government.
In a statement he issued ; Festus Keyamo made it clear the constitution doesn’t allow the NASS Committees to interfere in the selection process.
He said : “There was a misunderstanding between us when they questioned why I did not privately submit the programme 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.”
” 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 the Plenary. In this case, even the Plenary CANNOT give DIRECTIVES to the Executive.”
He threatened to resign his position if undue political interference surfaces in the works programme meant for the masses.
“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 compromises the jobs meant for ordinary Nigerians who have no Godfathers or who are not affiliated to any political party.”
Keyamo further added that the proposed suspension of the Special Works Programme by the Joint Committees is an assault on the powers of the Presidency.
Henceforth, he directed the State Selection Committees to go about their activities.
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.”The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo and the National Assembly Committees are heading for a major collision over the selection process of the ongoing Special Public Works Programmes of the federal government.
The minister’s appearance before the Joint Committees on Labour of both the Senate and House of Representatives ended on a rowdy note.
Speaking with newsmen after the session, he said that the provisions in Section 88 of the 1999 constitution, only allows the NASS Committees to investigate executive process and not to impose their will on other arm of government.
In a statement he issued ; Festus Keyamo made it clear the constitution doesn’t allow the NASS Committees to interfere in the selection process.
He said : “There was a misunderstanding between us when they questioned why I did not privately submit the programme 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.”
” 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 the Plenary. In this case, even the Plenary CANNOT give DIRECTIVES to the Executive.”
He threatened to resign his position if undue political interference surfaces in the works programme meant for the masses.
“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 compromises the jobs meant for ordinary Nigerians who have no Godfathers or who are not affiliated to any political party.”
Keyamo further added that the proposed suspension of the Special Works Programme by the Joint Committees is an assault on the powers of the Presidency.
Henceforth, he directed the State Selection Committees to go about their activities.
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.”
GLOBETELLY 