Festus Keyamo, the former Minister of State for Employment, Labour and Productivity, has issued an apology to the Nigerian Senate for actions during his previous term that cast a shadow over the parliamentary oversight process. Keyamo’s apology followed a contentious situation during his screening on Monday, wherein Senator Darlington Nwokocha, representing Abia Central Senatorial District, highlighted his perceived arrogance and lack of respect for constitutional obligations.
Nwokocha referred to Section 88 of the Nigerian Constitution, emphasizing the importance of the parliament’s legislative responsibilities and Keyamo’s disregard for them. This prompted a motion to suspend Keyamo’s screening, which received support from Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Amidst ensuing deliberations, the Senate temporarily moved to a closed session. After a five-hour recess, Keyamo reappeared and offered a formal apology to the Senators. He clarified that the contentious N52 billion Social Works Programme, designed for allocation to Local Government Councils across states, was his brainchild but that he had no knowledge of its distribution.
Keyamo stated that The Central Bank of Nigeria directly distributed the funds to beneficiaries, and he was unaware of the recipients’ identities. A comprehensive register recorded each beneficiary, and the Central Bank followed approved criteria for the disbursement.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Senator Godiya Akwashiki, expressed dissatisfaction with Keyamo’s previous interactions with the committee. However, he ultimately accepted the apology, advising Keyamo to “Go and sin no more.” Following this, Keyamo was granted permission to conclude his appearance.
