Nigeria’s federal lawmakers say they have suspended the government’s planned Special Public Works program intended to provide employment for 774,000 unemployment Nigerians.
The progam which was slated to take off in October would have engaged 774,000 Nigerians who would earn N20,000 each on a monthly basis for three months.
Ajibola Basiru, the spokesperson of the Senate announced the suspension of the program at a press conference in Abuja. He said the National Assembly had summoned the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, to appear before the lawmakers to explain the recruitment modalities.
The lawmakers had disagreed with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, on the modalities of the recruitment.
A heated argument ensued between the committee members and Mr Keyamo, who stormed out of the meeting after the lawmakers insisted on supervising the recruitment process.
Basiru said: “In view of the foregoing, the implementation of the programme shall be on hold pending proper briefing of the National Assembly by the Minister of Labour and Productivity.”