The Senate is currently in a rowdy session over a motion seeking to stop the screening of Festus Keyamo as miniterial nominee.
This occurred after the lawmaker representing Abia Central, Darlington Nwokocha, moved a motion when Keyamo appeared before the senators on Monday, August 7, 2023.
Nwokocha raised the motion for suspension of Kayemo’s screening pending investigation and explanation on how disbursement of N52 billion public works programme to Nigerians across 774 local governments during his tenure as Minister State for Labour and Employment.
Nwokocha, while moving the motion, said: “In 2020, on issue of the public works programme, we all welcome it with open hands because it will help our people when N20,000 was to be paid to 1,000 persons in each 774 LGAs in Nigeria.
“And today, paying N20,0000 to 1,000 persons in each local government would have a great multiplayer effects given what our people are facing.
“At a point, we wanted to carry out our responsibility, we invited the nominee because the public works programme was a subject of public debate and controversy and we wanted to know and give him fair hearing.
“To ask him to tell us what happened to our constituents and the indices he was using to disbursement the public works fund to Nigerians.
READ ALSO: Tinubu replaces ministerial nominee, appoints Keyamo
”And when he was invited, he expressly in the public told us that ‘we want to hijack his role’. He blackmailed us that we (lawmakers) are corrupt.
“He went as far as in the public glare, when he was asked which indices did he use to disburse the funds to Nigerians, he the nominee said ‘they are not from the moon’.
“Today, Mr Senate President, we need to find out, for Nigerians to know what happened to the N52 billion.
“Therefore, Mr President I am of the opinion that we hold down a little bit and I moved the motion that we suspend fourthwith this nomination.”
Seconding the motion, Sen.Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA -Abia) said: “In view of section 88 (1b) of the constitution which mandates the National Assembly to look into the conduct of affairs of any person, authority or ministry, and when such a person refuses and deliberately stays away and prevents national assembly to do its works.
“And in view of the fact that this nominee rejected the summons of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“I do support that this nominee should be step down, pending when he decides that the national assembly has that right to enquire into the working of a minister and his ministry.”
Thereafter, following the request for a voice vote for or against the motion from Senate President, Godswill Akpiabio, the plenary session became roudy, as there shouts of the “nay have it and the i have dominating the session”.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidela (APC-Ekiti), however, moved a motion for the Senate to resolve into a closed session.
President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, August 4, appointed Keyamo from Delta State, as a minister designate.
The president also replaced a ministerial nominee from Kano State, Maryam Shetty, with Dr Mairiga Mahmud.
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