The Senate and the House of Representatives Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the implementation of the plan to recruit 774,000 Nigerians for Special Public Works across the country, until modalities are explained to the National Assembly.

The decision of the National Assembly followed a sharp disagreement between the National Assembly Joint Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity and the Minister for State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo  over the modalities for appointing the 20-member Selection Committee for the programme.

Keyamo who had appeared at an interactive session organized by the joint committee opposed a resolution of the Joint Committee to retreat into a closed door session. This led to an argument between both parties which later degenerated into Keyamo walking out of the session.

The spokesperson for the Senate, Ajibola Basiru announced the suspension of the programme at a press conference in Abuja.

He said, “In view of the foregoing, the implementation of the programme shall be on hold pending proper briefing of the National Assembly by the Minister of Labour and Productivity.”