A yet-to-be-identified lawmaker threw a microphone at the Minister of state for labour, Festus Keyamo on Tuesday during a senate committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, met with a senate committee to deliver a presentation on a Special public works programme where 774,000 people are to be employed by the federal government under the National Directorate of Employment(NDE).
A fierce exchange of words erupted between committee members and Keyamo over the leadership of the employment exercise. The committee decided to go into a closed-door session to discuss the matter, but the minister refused, insisting that further discussions be held in the presence of journalists.
In the heat of the exchange, a lawmaker picked up a microphone and hurled it towards Keyamo who was seated opposite the committee table. Fortunately, it fell short and landed in front of Keyamo’s table.
Keyamo has also issued a statement on the incident saying;
“Today, in obedience to their invitation, I appeared before the Joint Committees on Labour of both the Senate and the House. The Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members sought to be briefed on the implementation of the Special Public Works Programme so far.”
“However, there was a misunderstanding between us when they questioned why I did not privately submit the program to them for vetting before taking certain steps. They suggested that they ought to have an input on how the programme should be implemented. In other words, they sought to control the programme as to who gets what, where and how.”
“However, I insisted that I could not surrender the programme to their control since their powers under the constitution does not extend to that. They insisted on a closed-door session.”
“At this point, I remarked that it was only fair for me to respond to their position before the press, since their own position was also made public. In any case, I remarked that the Nigerian people deserve to know the details of the execution of this all-important programme.”
“I was then asked to apologize for insisting on a public interaction and I said there was nothing to apologize about, because their powers to expose corruption provided for in section 88 of the Constitution cannot be exercised in private. As such, there was no need to apologize by insisting on a Constitutional provision. Even their Rules that may provide for private hearings on public matters cannot override the provisions of the Constitution. I was then permitted to leave. I took a bow and left. I NEVER walked out on the respected Committees as they may want to bend the narrative.”
“After I left, I understand that the Joint Committees purportedly suspended the work of the Selection Committees nationwide until they decide how the programme should be run and who should be in those Committees. My opinion is that it is tantamount to challenging the powers of Mr. President.”
“I regret to say that their powers under section 88 of the 1999 Constitution is only limited to investigations, but NOT TO GIVE ANY DIRECTIVE TO THE EXECUTIVE.”
“A Committee or Committees of both Houses do not even have powers to pass binding Resolutions. They can only make recommendations to Plenary. In this case, even Plenary CANNOT give DIRECTIVES to the Executive.”
[BREAKING]
This is the moment an unruly lawmaker threw a microphone at Festus Keyamo, SAN [@fkeyamo].
Fortunately, it didn’t get to him, yet they wanted him to apologise to @nassnigeria.@NigeriaGov @OfficialAPCNg @HouseNGR @femigbaja #order#Discipline pic.twitter.com/gyBREVNBR7
— APC United Kingdom (@APCUKingdom) June 30, 2020
They want to hijack it for touts and girlfriends
So sad
Keyamo didn’t recognize he was in the midst of shameless animals, beasts who were already used to fighting and assulting each other right inside their various Chambers without any law prohibiting them of such acts. Brutality is their second name(after House Members). Sorry.
Imaging a whole Senator throwing MIC,dat”s an act of thug & Area Boys..av mercys…
San. Keyamo abeg u too much. U are a man People like u is what nigerias need There’s no body has ever done anything as such in the history of nigeria This is how the country has been governing us since the years Them need to know that San.Is nd oringenal worry Man Warri no they carry last.
Wh is this people’s problem with a small scale empowerment program? Can’t the on their own give morethan that money. Shameless elders kawai.
Zoo people
If I am behari, keyamo would be my imminent PA as well as personal adviser, knowledge is power, my people perished because they lack knowledge, hitherto some people would have been flinchingly shivering at the request and accusation of this law makers, but wisdom is supreme therefore get sagacity.
What do they even want? Shameless old fools. They don’t even know to what extent their power covers. @oga keyamo, please do everything to put them to shame. Even throwing a Mic at you. Can you see the act of thuggery in the Nigerian Senate ? That is some body’s father.
Area, Warri not dey carry last, we go tell them say we too much.
Kayemo SAN, educate them. They know not their bounds. Encourage and educate the President also to stand firm. Just do what is right. Respect all but don’t give in to pressure. The whole country is with you. We encourage you. God be with you.