MINISTERIAL SCREENING: TOUGH TIME FOR KEYAMO AS CONTROVERSIAL N52BN NDE SCHEME HAUNTS HIM

It was a tough screening session for the immediate past minister of state for labour, Festus Keyamo, SAN as the Senate, today, Monday, was split into two, and degenerated into an uproar.

Keyamo, a ministerial nominee from Delta State, was met with oppositions when the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia Central) rose at 1.37p.m., to raise a point of Order.

Nwokocha’s point of order was with regard to a matter in 2020 about the public works programme for the employment of 1,000 Nigerians in every local government area in the country.

Citing Section 88(1b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Nwokacha reminded Keyamo of accusing the National Assembly of corruption and wanting to hijack the process of disbursement of N52 billion.

Section 88 says each House of the National Assembly has the power to investigate (a) any matter in respect of which it has the power to make laws; and (b) the conduct of any parastatal or official responsible for administering any Act of the National Assembly or in charge of disbursing funds.

As Nwokocha expounded on the issue, he became more furious, and ended with a motion that the screening of Keyamo should be stepped down.

Senator Enyinnaya (APGA, Abia South) seconded the motion, saying the nominee rejected the summons of the Senate and House of Representatives over the public works programme.