Olaoye Ademola with Agency Report/
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo engaged in a shouting match with members of the National Assembly on Tuesday over the planned recruitment of 774,000 people by the Federal Government.
The Minister of State also opposed suggestions of private talks by the lawmakers.
The Federal Government, through the Finance Minister, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, earlier this year, announced the planned recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians.
The Minister who said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the proposed employment added that those recruited would be engaged in a special works programme domiciled in the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
On Tuesday, Keyamo appeared before a joint committee of the senate and house of representatives on labour alongside Nasiru Ladan, NDE director-general.
The NDE DG was asked to speak on the criteria used in appointing a 20-member committee for the implementation of the programme. Ladan however said he knew only eight members of the committee.
The lawmakers then sought clarifications from Keyamo by asking a series of questions. They believed he had sidelined the NDE on the planned employment procedures.
Both parties disagreed, and there was a shouting match. The session became rowdy.
The lawmakers then opted for a closed-session but Keyamo disagreed.
Reacting, Keyamo said: “How can you expose corruption without the cameras? How can, how can you expose it? I must respond to what he said. You cannot say something and I won’t respond. It is wrong.”
Then some of the lawmakers chorused, “Go, go, get out. Where is the sergeant-at-arms to walk him?”
He was subsequently ordered out of the hearing room.
Addressing journalists outside the hearing room, Keyamo alleged that the lawmakers were trying to take charge of the recruitment exercise which his ministry supervises.
In May, Keyamo said up to 10 percent slots of the beneficiaries of the programme in each state would be allotted to political office holders “like our distinguished senators, honourable members, ministers and governors”.
It is worthy of note that on Monday, while inaugurating the committee, the minister said some politicians were trying to blackmail him over the recruitment.