Chris Ngige, Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment on Wednesday said National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole was ignorant of the provisions of the Procurement Act.
Ngige was reacting to the threats of suspension from Oshiomhole over the constitution of the boards of his ministry for which the APC chairman threatened the minister with suspension.
But Ngige called Oshiomhole to order in a letter he sent to him on Tuesday just as he said on Wednesday that he is ignorant of what he was saying.
Ngige spoke on the day the federal government waded into their face off assuring it would be resolved.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said the face-off between Oshiomhole and Ngige, will be resolved amicably.
Mohammed gave the assurance when he fielded questions from State House correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Ngige, in a statement by the Director of Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, said those that said he had not inaugurated the Board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) because he was awarding contracts were ignorant of the Procurement Act.
Ngige told State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday he was not afraid of suspension.
He reiterated that he was part of those who founded the APC before bringing the likes of Oshiomhole in.
The minister maintained that the board of the NSITF was yet to be inaugurated because of reports of diversion of funds to the tune of N48 billion.
Asked when he was going to comply and if he was not afraid of suspension from the party, Ngige thundered: “How? In a party that we formed and brought them in?
“The man (Oshiomhole) is talking out of ignorance. I am not afraid of suspension.”
Oshiomhole had said on Monday that the APC under his leadership would not continue to tolerate ministers who abuse their office and disrespect President Muhammadu Buhari by refusing to carry out his directives.
He told Ngige not to comply within the stipulated time and see if he will not be suspended and thereafter, sacked from the federal cabinet.