President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, to proceed with the execution of the special public works progamme.
Presidency sources confirmed President Buhari’s directive on the programme.
Keyamo had clashed the National Assembly over the legislature’s insistence on dictating the process of the programme.
The National Assembly committee on labour suspended the programme in the heat of its face-off with Keyamo.
The lawmakers and Keyamo had at a meeting in June vehemently disagreed, resulting in the minister being walked out of the venue.
But Keyamo accused the committee of seeking to hijack the programme and to appropriate some job slots to themselves.
He also accused the National Assembly committee of challenging the President by its action, saying they acted beyond their powers.
Keyamo was said to have held a meeting with President Buhari, where he recounted his encounter with the lawmakers over the programme.
Buhari was said to have been irked by the development, kicking against the lawmakers’ meddling in matters with the purview of the Executive.
The President was said to have then asked Keyamo to proceed with the execution of the programme and to ensure it is conducted ”strictly according to existing laws.”
Buhari, it was learnt, also directed the director-general of the National Directorate of Employment to discontinue any alternative plan on the programme with the lawmakers.
It was also learnt that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has written to the National Assembly urging the legislature to stay within the scope of its statutory responsibilities.
Keyamo had inaugurated committees made up of 20 people in each state, which will be in charge of engaging 774,000 citizens in the special works programme.
Nigerians enlisted on the programme are expected to carry out public services such as street sweeping, waste disposal and the like.
The programe is aimed at engaging young jobless citizens as well as providing a means of sustenance for them.