Senate in rowdy session over motion to step down Keyamo’s screening

The senate is currently in a rowdy session over a motion seeking to step down the screening of Festus Keyamo as ministerial nominee. 

Darlington Nwokocha, representing Abia central, moved the motion on Monday when Keyamo appeared before the lawmakers. 

The lawmaker said Keyamo ignored the summon of parliament in 2020 over the employment scheme of 774,000 Nigerians recruited for the special public works programme.

Keyamo was minister of state for labour and employment in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He had accused the lawmakers of attempts to blackmail him. 

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia south, supported Nwokocha’s motion to step down Keyamo’s screening.

When Godswill Akpabio, senate president, put the motion to a voice vote, the ‘nays’ were just as loud as the ‘ayes’ as a rancorous session ensued.

The senate has dissolved into a closed session to resolve the issue, with the media asked to leave the gallery.

IN THE BEGINNING…

In April 2020, the federal government approved the recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians on special public works programme, with the mandate of 1000 people per LGA.

The programme, implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), was part of the fiscal stimulus measures adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project had caused a disagreement between Keyamo and the lawmakers who accused him of taking over the programme from the NDE.

On June 30, 2020, members of the national assembly walked Keyamo out of the senate after he refused a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers.

The lawmakers had said nobody from their constituency benefitted from the scheme.

However, Keyamo responded by accusing the lawmakers of trying to blackmail him and hijack the SPW exercise, adding that the “beneficiaries are not from the moon”.

During the screening on Monday, Nwokocha said Keyamo owes parliament an explanation on the implementation of the programme, otherwise he should not be screened.

“I move that we suspend forthwith screening of the nomination and wait until when this is cleared,” he said.

Akpabio called for another voice vote after the first, and this time the lawmakers responded in a disorderly manner, collectively shouting “no” and “yes”.

The rowdiness continued for about five minutes before calm was restored. Thereafter, the senate president called for an executive session.