Early yesterday, the 8th of December: A news confirming the sack of Dr Nasiru Mohammed Ladan Argungu, the DG National Directorates of Employment (NDE) flooded the media space. This was after the official announcement from the Senior Special assistant on media to the president Garba shehu was released via a press statement on the subject matter.
The News sacking the NDE boss was a shocking one to most of the shortlisted beneficiaries of the federal government “special works programme,” NDE Jobs, which was slated to begin anytime from this Month to February 2021.
Recall that the National Directorate of Employment which was, vis a vis, formerly led by Dr Nasiru had earlier announced the slated date for the starting up exercise the 1st of December 2020 and with the failure recorded so far, many are not surprised on the recent news of the sack and subsequent direction from the president to the HON minister in charge, Barr Festus Keyamo (SAN) to appoint a new Director General for the NDE Jobs.
festus keyamo at the office of NDE Jobs.
Fears of uncertainty have already overriden most of the shortlisted SPW beneficiaries over readiness of the federal government to carry on with this aforementioned program. It is pertinent at this juncture to say that many states in the Federation have concluded the account opening in anticipation for the program, yet there seems to be a snailish attitude from the part of the Directorate itself.
However, the outright sack of the NDE Director General, Dr Nasiru is not a trickish closure of the program as insinuated in many parts of the country and on social media platforms. However, it should be seen as a reigniting move from the Presidency to correct the errors of the past leadership of the program that hindered the accomplishment of this program.
Also, take note that before the official announcement of this special works programme by the Federal government of Nigeria, this bill has been approved and the finance for the execution of the 774,000 workers paid into the directorate, and can not be reverted or cancelled by the directorate himself. In the event where the finance was reverted or cancelled, the directorate will be prepared to answer a case of money laundering (that is if the programs finally fails to progress).
