The National Assembly has asked the Federal Government to suspend the planned recruitment of 774,000 persons for the Public Works Scheme until it is properly briefed on implementation modalities.
The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, had, on Tuesday, clashed with members of National Assembly Joint committees on Labour over the membership of the 20-man selection committee following the accusation by the lawmakers that he was trying to dictate their proceedings to them.
The minister was walked out of the session for refusing to apologise.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South) described Keyamo’s outburst as a display of rascality which must be condemned by Nigerians.
The National Assembly, in a joint statement Wednesday, asked its committees on labour and productivity to immediately invite the Minister for Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, and any other relevant officials of the ministry to brief them on the modality for the implementation of the programme.
The statement was signed by the spokespersons of the Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Ajibola Basiru and Benjamin Kalu respectively.
The lawmakers said they were concerned about the proper and effective implementation of the programme.
The National Assembly said it was part of the conception of the programme, approved it and appropriated funds for its implementation as part of the COVID-19 response strategy.
Briefing reporters later, Basiru, said the legislature was constitutionally empowered to put the programme on hold.
“The oversight function of the National Assembly is to oversight anybody using resources of the state to ensure that the money is used for the purpose it was meant for, and in accordance with our oath and the oath of the minister and the president, to act in the interest of the state without fear or favour,” he said.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari could approach the court if he felt that his powers were being encroached.
He said: “If the president sees that his powers are being encroached, he can approach the court of law.
“What we are saying is this, this project the way you are looking at it, it is as if it is an exclusively presidential project.
“The conception of the programme, its approval and its funding is with the consent of the National Assembly because we believe it is going to be beneficial for the purpose of addressing the challenges of COVID-19.
“So your perspective on encroaching on the powers of the President, there is no exclusivity in terms of any programme that is to be implemented except National Assembly is not part of government.
“Government as defined by the 1999 constitution has three components; legislative powers section 4, executive powers section 5, and the judicial power section 6.
“It is the totality of these that constitute government so when you are saying government is doing programme, it is not President Muhammadu Buhari that is doing the programme.
“It is the government of the people, implementation, appropriation and execution all rolled into one.
“There is no dichotomy as such as encroaching on the powers of the President.”
When contacted by Daily Trust, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, declined comment.
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