Selfish Politicians Want To Determine Who Gets 774,000 Jobs From Buhari – Keyamo

Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has promised to not bow to alleged blackmails and pressure by a few politicians who want to determine those who will get the 774,000 jobs approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He revealed this at the official inauguration of the states selection committee of the programme in Abuja.

According to him, the majority of the jobs will be allotted to common citizens who are in dire need of them and nothing will change that fact.

He added that if certain people entrusted with this kind of programmes hand them over entirely to political leaders in the past, that will not be the case when he is involved.

His words, “In the past, it used to be that certain people entrusted with this kind of programmes hand them over entirely to political leaders.

“There has been attempt at blackmailing in this particular programme too to make us also yield into political leaders and we have said no, not while am here.

“Except Mr. President who appointed and gave me the opportunity and rare privilege to drive this programme stops me, no other political leader or person can stop me; am answerable only to Mr. President. This programme is for all Nigerians.

“Before coming here today there has been an attempt by certain political leaders to say I must come and see them behind the scenes first to determine who gets what and how and I said no, I will not do that and I am ready at any time for a public debate on this with them.”

“I think the chairmen can stand on their own, Don’t go and meet in any government house to hold any meeting, don’t go to any politicians house to do selections. Hold your meetings in NDE offices.

“NDE is the one driving this programme, they have coordinators keep firm, stand firm. Nobody should be given more than what we allotted to the person.

“We are going to be strict in allotting to different sectors: civil society, market women wait for those directives so nobody should intimidate the chairmen. “I know the chairmen will stand their ground, I am also here to back them up. We are going to remove anybody who is dancing to the tune of anybody and undermining the drive of this programme.

“All my life I have fought for good governance, I have gone to court to ensure that things are done right when out of government. That is what gave me my name and pedigree before I came into government and I have a practice to go back to, I want to reach the zenith of my profession.

“Nobody will come and dictate to me the work that Mr. President told me to do. I cannot come into government and then abandon all the principles I fought for while I was out of government. I will not do that. Any attempt to intimidate or blackmail us here we will not give in except Mr. President tells me to stop then I will stop.”