THE President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio rushed down to the Presidential Villa after a heated session in the red chamber which resulted in a motion to suspend the screening of ministerial nominee Festus Keyamo from Delta State.
Earlier, Darlington Nwokocha, senator representing Abia Central, moved the motion when Keyamo appeared before the senate’s committee of the whole for screening.
Nwokocha said Keyamo ignored the summon of the National Assembly over the employment scheme of 774,000 Nigerians recruited for the special public works programme.
“I move that we suspend forthwith screening of the nomination and wait until when this is cleared,” he said.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South, supported Nwokocha’s motion to step down Keyamo’s screening.
The programme was overseen by the National Directorate of Employment, which fell under Keyamo’s ministry.
When the senate president put the motion to a voice vote, the ‘nays’ were as loud as the ‘ayes’ after which a rancorous session ensued.
Akpabio called for another voice vote after the first, and this time, the lawmakers responded in a disorderly manner, collectively shouting “no” and “yes”.
The rowdiness continued for about five minutes before calm was restored. Thereafter, the senate president called for an executive session.
Eighteen-Eleven Media