Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, has accused the joint national assembly committees on labour of challenging President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reacting to the decision of the lawmakers to suspend some committees he inaugurated on Monday, Keyamo said the legislators acted beyond their powers.
While inaugurating the committees made up of 20 people in each state, Keyamo had said they would be in charge of engaging 774,000 citizens in a special works programme implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
But at the national assembly on Tuesday, he engaged in a shouting match with the lawmakers who faulted the recruitment exercise.
While the lawmakers had accused Keyamo of hijacking the programme from NDE, the minister hit back, saying they were the ones trying to take over the project.
In a statement after the incident, Keyamo said the national assembly joint committees do not have powers to make binding resolutions and that they could not direct the executive even in plenary.
“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,” the lawyer said.
“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.”
The minister said only Buhari could stop the work of the selection committees he inaugurated.
“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,” he said.
“Only Mr. President can stop their work.” (The Cable)
