By Okoye Kingsley
The Senate has screened Mr Festus Keyamo a ministerial nominee from Delta after he apologised to the lawmakers over an alleged misconduct to the legislature.
Keyamo’s screening at plenary on Monday followed his apology to lawmakers over his conduct in 2020, when it was said he ignored surmons of both chambers of National Assembly to explain disbursement of N52 billion public works programme of the Federal Government.
Earlier, the Senate had dissolved into closed session over motion to suspend the screening of Keyamo.
The motion, which generated altercation amongst the senators, was sponsored by Sen. Dalington Nwokocha (LP-Abia).
Nwokocha had raised a motion for suspension of Kayemo’s screening pending investigation and explanation on how disbursement of N52 billion public works programme to Nigerians across 774 local governments during his tenure as Minister of State, Labour and Productivity.
On resumption from closed session, Kayemo apologised to the lawmakers over his conduct in 2020 to both chambers of National Assembly, when he was invited to explain the ministry’s activities on the public works programme.
He thereafter explained payment to the beneficiaries of the public works programme was made by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) direct to the beneficiaries account with their verifiable BVN.
According to him, every beneficiary was duly registered and documented and could be verified by the Senate.
President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio noted that government was a continuum, adding that the Senate has the right to investigate payment of the money to the beneficiaries.
Sen. Godiya Akwasiki (SDP-Nasarawa) however urged the senate to accept the apology tenderd by the nominee, given his remorseful disposition.
Sen. Alli Ndume (APC-Borno) thereafter moved a motion that senate accept the apology of the nominee, while Sen. Jaribe Agom (PDP- Cross River) moved another motion that the nominee take leave of the senate, after his his apology was accepted by the senate, given the ruling of President of Senate.
Akpabio consequently ruled further that the nominee took a leave of the senate.
Senate thereafter dissolved into another closed session to continue the legislative business of the day. (NAN)
