Festus Keyamo Replies Phrank Shaibu On Asset Declaration Saga

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, has responded to Phrank Shaibu, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following calls for the National Assembly to make public its report on the N52bn Special Works Programme (SWP) implemented in the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Nigeria.

In a statement on Sunday, Shaibu had requested that the National Assembly publish its report on the programme, which was intended to provide temporary employment for 774,000 Nigerians across all LGAs for a period of three months.

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Shaibu also questioned how the funds were utilized and called for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Keyamo’s finances following his alleged acquisition of properties in the United States.

Reacting to the statement in an interview with Vanguard, Keyamo expressed his support for Nigerians scrutinising public officials for alleged corruption.

He confirmed that he has declared his assets and asked Shaibu or anyone else in doubt to contact the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for his assets declaration form. He further clarified that he did not acquire his US properties with public funds but with money made from legal practice.

Keyamo went on to state that before he was appointed a minister, he wrote to the relevant government agencies informing them of the closure of his foreign accounts and the repatriation of his funds to Nigeria since the country’s law does not permit public officials to operate foreign bank accounts.

He emphasized that any Nigerian who wishes to know anything about any public officer, including himself, is welcome to compel the relevant government organs to release any document, adding that it is a patriotic act to do so. He encouraged Nigerians to ask for his assets declaration form before he became a minister, stating that his assets declaration is available for everyone to see.

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Keyamo concluded by saying that he and some others do not need government funds or patronage to get by, and that whatever they do and whoever they support is out of their deep convictions.