The confrontation between the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Festus Keyamo and the Senate seems far from over with the upper legislative chamber insisting the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, drives the implementation of the Special Public Works Programme.
The position of the Senate contradicts the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari directing the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Festus Keyamo to handle the exercise.
Despite meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari last week with a view to resolve the conflict with the executive arm; the Senate on Tuesday refused to shift any grounds on the matter.
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The position of the Senate followed a motion by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele representing Ekiti Central asking it to hold the NDE to whom the N52 billion was appropriated to in the 2020 budget accountable for the recruitment exercise.
The Senate further noted that the Ministry of Labour can only supervise NDE and not take over the implementation of the exercise.
This was as the upper legislative chamber also maintained that it will not shy away from exercising its oversight powers to ensure proper utilization of the funds.
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In his contribution, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Godiya Akwashiki cited provisions of the 1999 Constitution which empowers the NDE to carry out such projects.
The NDE was established in 1989 and empowered by the National Directorate of Employment Act N0. 24 to design and implement programmes to combat mass unemployment.
(Editor:Abaje Usekwe)
