Minister for state for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, says he is being blackmailed by politicians who want to determine who gets the 774,000 job slots approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Federal Government had announced that 774,000 would be created under the special public works programme of National Directorate of Employment, NDE, across the country as part of measures to combat unemployment.
Speaking at the official inauguration of the states selection committee of the programme in Abuja, Keyamo insisted that that majority of the jobs must be allotted to ordinary Nigerians who were in need of them.
He said that he would not sacrifice his reputation and principles by going beyond the 10 to 15 per cent allotted to political officers, Keyamo said only President Buhari could make him do otherwise.
According to him, “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.
