The senate has resumed the screening of Festus Keyamo after
the former minister tendered an apology to the lawmakers.
Recall that the upper legislative chamber was thrown into
chaos following a motion demanding that the screening of Keyamo be suspended.
Darlington Nwokocha, senator representing Abia central, had
moved the motion on Monday when Keyamo appeared before the lawmakers for
screening as a ministerial nominee.
The lawmaker said Keyamo ignored the summon of the
parliament in 2020 over the employment scheme of 774,000 Nigerians recruited
for the special public works programme.
Keyamo was minister of state for labour and employment in
the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He had accused the lawmakers of attempts to blackmail him.
Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia south, seconded
Nwokocha’s motion to step down Keyamo’s screening.
Following the uproar that the motion generated, the senate
dissolved into a closed session to resolve the issue.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently visited Aso
Rock villa to meet with President Bola Tinubu.
At the resumption of the screening, Keyamo apologised to the
senators.
He said the “issue” was resolved because he subsequently
appeared before the senate committees after the “incident”.
Ali Ndume, chief chip of the senate, moved a motion that
Keyamo’s apology be accepted.
The motion was unanimously adopted when it was put to a
voice vote by Akpabio.
There were no questions posed to Keyamo by the senators
after he apologised and was then asked to “take a leave”.
“The apology is without reservation. I apologise,” he said.
With the screening of Keyamo, the senate has concluded the
screening of the 48 ministerial nominees.
Senate president is expected to announce the next course of
action to be taken by the upper legislative chamber on the nominees.
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