774,000 jobs: Keyamo insists on original sharing formula

The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity Festus Keyamo has said the federal government will retain the original plan of conceding only 15 per cent of the job slots to Governors, National Assembly members, Ministers and other interest groups in the sharing the 774,000 jobs under Special Public Works (SPW) scheme.

The Minister spoke against the backdrop of claims by the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, Dr. Nasir Mohammed Ladan that the job sharing formula will accommodate more concessions.

He said the Federal Government will retain the original plan of conceding only 15 per cent of the job slots to Governors, National Assembly members, Ministers and other interest groups.

Keyamo, however, said there may be a few adjustments of the sharing formula depending on local circumstances.

Keyamo said: “The report on the sharing formula must have been a misapprehension of the instructions I gave to them to implement.

“I did not give any instruction on 40 per cent rise for them to implement. We are sticking to the original formula of 15 per cent concession to political office holders.

“There may be a few adjustments here and there depending on local circumstances.”

On his role on the project, the Minister said: “I have not received superior instructions from my bosses. The presidency did not give contrary instructions on my role.”

But he explained the Ministry has been working seamlessly with NDE.

Keyamo added: “We are working harmoniously with NDE on this issue. That is why you can see a joint team (from the ministry and NDE) going around to supervise the preparations for the takeoff of the project all over the country.

“By the law establishing NDE, the ministry is an integral part of NDE. We cannot separate the two of them. The DG and I have held several meetings of late and we are on the same page on these issues.

Responding to a question, the Minister insisted the October 1 take-off date for the project is realistic. “We are working very hard to make the date realistic.”