Kenneth Okonkwo, a Labour Party (LP) chieftain, has reacted to Minister of State for Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo‘s claims that the appointment of a minister of state is an anomaly and unconstitutional.
WITHIN NIGERIA reported that Keyamo said this on Wednesday at the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the State House in Abuja, which was presided over by President Muhammdu Buhari.
According to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, most of his colleagues have been made redundant in the last eight years, and other ministers of state have not had the courage to speak out.
Keyamo claimed that evaluating the individual performances of ministers of state was difficult because their discretion was limited by senior ministers.
He complained that original ideas developed by a minister of state are usually subjected to approval by another Cabinet member before being considered by Council.
In response, Kenneth Okonkwo stated that Keyamo is correct, emphasizing that it is discriminatory to give any state the position of substantive Minister for each state.
He did, however, point out that it is improper for Keyamo to have collected salaries and emoluments for the position and held them until the last FEC meeting.
Kenneth went on to say that because the SAN is an accomplice in the illegality, he should refund all salaries and emoluments received during his tenure.
He said;
My Learned Colleague, Festus Keyamo SAN, was very correct when he stated that the post of Minister of State is unconstitutional. I can even take it further to say that it is discriminatory to give any state the position as against the provision of substantive Minister for each state.
However, he was very wrong to have collected salaries, and emoluments pertaining to the post and held on to it until the last meeting of FEC before saying this, and this makes him an accomplice to the illegality.
He should therefore purge himself of this intentional act of illegality by refunding all the salary and emoluments received throughout his tenure. He should immediately resign the appointment and disavow perpetually the position. This is how men of honour behave