I’m Only Answerable To Buhari, No Political Leader Can Stop The On going 774,000 Recruitment Programme - Keyamo

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has sent a strong warning to those political leaders interested in taking control of the ongoing recruitment of 774,000 public workers in the country.

The minister who stated that he is only answerable to President Muhammadu Buhari, said that he has been given the Presidential nod to proceed with the recruitment process and no attempt at blackmailing the programme by politicians or any influential person will make him back out from it.

During a joint Senate/House of Representatives Committee meeting held on June 30, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan had called for a halt to the process due to the irregularities surrounding the selection process.

This burgeoning news platform, gathered that the committee members walked the minister out of the session after the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Director-General Nasir Ladan, insisted that only 8 statutory members outs of the 20-man selection committee were known.

Keyamo said:

“In the past, it used to be that certain persons entrusted with this kind of programmes, would hand it over to the political leaders. There has been an attempt at blackmailing this programme too to make us yield it to political leaders and we have said no. Not while I’m here.

“I have the pedigree and background; I know where I’m coming from before I came into public office. I have a pedigree and what I stand for and as I said in a previous press conference and I’m saying it again, that except Mr. President who appointed me and gave me the opportunity to drive this programme stops me, no other political leader or person can stop me. I’m only answerable to Mr President.

“I am making it open and I am ready anytime for a public debate on this with them. Ordinary Nigerians must have access to this programme. Those who are thinking that I must come and see them behind the scene to determine who gets what and how they will get it, I am saying no, it is as simple as that.”

The 774,000 public workers are to work across the 774 local government areas from where 1,000 each are to be recruited.

The participants are to be paid N20,000 monthly for the three-month duration of the programme which will begin in October.