Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called on the National Assembly to release the report of its investigation into the N52bn Special Works Programme (SWP), which was initiated by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo.
In response to Keyamo’s purchase of a house in the United States for over $300,000, the media aide to Atiku issued a statement.
According to sources, in an effort to alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian government authorised the allocation of N52bn in 2021. This sum was designated for the employment of 774,000 individuals for a three-month period, spanning all local government areas in the nation.
A total of 774,000 Nigerians have been employed to carry out various community services such as clearing drainages, sweeping markets, cutting grass, and other menial jobs.
According to sources, Keyamo was allegedly responsible for the dismissal of Nasiru Argungu, the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). It was reported that Keyamo was overseeing the N52bn project which was deemed unsuccessful by the National Assembly.
According to reports, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have alleged that a significant number of individuals who were supposed to receive funds did not receive any, while others who did receive funds did not perform any work. Following concerns raised by some individuals, an investigation into the running of the programme by Keyamo has been promised.
In response to Keyamo’s assertion of owning multiple properties in the US, Shaibu stated that the National Assembly had discredited the special works programme as a fraud and had raised concerns about the allocation of funds. For the past two years, Keyamo has been defending the flawed execution of the programme.
Following the recent admission by the individual in question regarding his ownership of properties in the United States, I urge the National Assembly to release their findings on the aforementioned project that did not come to fruition. The call has been made for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the financial activities of Festus Keyamo, who was appointed as a minister just two years after being conferred with the title of Senior Advocate.
According to public records, Keyamo had a background as an activist and a prosecutor for the EFCC, primarily working on pro bono cases prior to entering public office. The individual in question now claims to be a successful real estate tycoon following their appointment as a minister. The statement made can be perceived as a source of amusement and a disregard for the Nigerian people’s intelligence.
During Keyamo’s tenure as Minister of State for Labour and Employment, the country experienced a significant increase in unemployment rates, with KPMG projecting that it could soon reach 40%. During Keyamo’s tenure, universities experienced extended periods of strikes, with ASUU embarking on a 10-month strike in 2020 and an eight-month industrial action in 2021. Minister Keyamo’s tenure was marked by failure, while his purported real estate enterprise saw him amass greater wealth. The individual in question must be subjected to an immediate investigation, according to sources.
According to Keyamo, he had informed the relevant government agencies about the closure of his foreign accounts and the repatriation of his funds to Nigeria through letters dated March 6, 2019, prior to his appointment as a Minister. He stated that Nigerian law prohibits public officials from operating foreign bank accounts.
According to him, his assets declaration is publicly available for anyone to view. There are individuals who are able to sustain themselves without relying on financial support or sponsorship from the government. According to the individual, their actions and affiliations stem from their personal beliefs and values.
In response, Shaibu challenged Keyamo to publicly disclose his asset declaration form, which was submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau in 2019.
According to the source, Keyamo’s claims of being an EFCC prosecutor and an anti-corruption crusader have been called into question. The source suggested that Keyamo should publicly disclose his asset declaration forms to substantiate his claims.
According to Shaibu, Minister Keyamo’s tenure will expire in a month, and as per the regulations, he will have to disclose his assets to the CCB in the upcoming month. The call has been made for the public release of the asset declaration forms of the individual in question, both prior to and following their time in office. This is seen as a necessary step in demonstrating to the Nigerian people that there has been no wrongdoing or misappropriation of funds.
