House of Representatives has called for the immediate suspension of the controversial Special Works Scheme of the Federal Government.
National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity had clashed over the recruitment of 774,000 workers for the scheme.
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At the plenary on Wednesday, the House asked the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning not to fund the scheme, which is billed to take off in January 2021.
It would be recalled that National Assembly had appropriated N52bn for the exercise in the 2020 Appropriation Act. It was to begin in November.
The House also faulted the removal of the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, Dr Nasiru Argungu, who had backed the parliament in the controversy.
The House urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse himself on Argungu’s sacking.
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The lawmakers, who have been at loggerheads with the federal government over the scheme, faulted the manner in which the 774,000 beneficiaries will be employed.
In July, alongside the senate, the lower legislative chamber suspended the programme after alleging they had been sidelined.
They insisted the programme will remain suspended until the federal government explained all grey areas and the modalities for the recruitment.
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They also sought to be actively involved in the recruitment of the beneficiaries, a move which Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, had opposed.
Despite the earlier suspension, Keyamo got the president’s approval to go ahead with the scheme which N52 billion was reportedly appropriated for in 2020 budget.
It was billed to kick off in November but the controversies over the mode of recruitment for beneficiaries delayed its commencement.
As the showdown continued, the president suspended Argungu who was rumoured to have sided with the lawmakers in the controversy.
However, while considering a motion on the matter on Tuesday, the lawmakers asked the president to reinstate Argungu and also resolved to halt funding for the scheme until all pending issues are resolved.
