Emefiele, More Ministers To Go As Fresh Directive Orders Appointees To Exit Office
Emefiele, More Ministers To Go As Fresh Directive Orders Appointees To Exit Office
BY CLEMENT OGBEMUDIA
President Muhammadu Buhari has further directed political appointees in his administration seeking elective positions in the 2023 elections, to resign from office.
The fresh directive is contained in a circular issued on Wednesday night by Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), after an earlier one directing members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to resign on or before May 16.
According to the latest directive, which is in line with the provisions of section 84(12) of the electoral act, affected appointees are to hand over to ministers of the state where applicable or to the permanent secretary in the Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs)
“Mr President has observed and noted the expression of interest and intention by some members of the Federal Executive Council, heads of extra-ministerial departments, agencies, parastatals of government, ambassadors and other political office holders to contest the upcoming presidential, gubernatorial, national and state assemblies elections,” the circular stated.
“Consequently, Mr President has directed that the affected office holders aspiring to run for various offices in the 2023 general election, should tender their resignation on or before Monday, the 16th of May, 2022.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this directive affects all ministers, heads and members of extra-ministerial departments, agencies and parastatals of government, ambassadors, as well as other political appointees who desire to contest for elective offices.
“For smooth running of the machinery of government and our foreign missions, affected ministers are to hand over to ministers of the state where they exist or to the permanent secretary, where there is no minister of state.
“Ambassadors shall hand over to their deputy heads of mission or the most senior foreign service officer in line with established practices.
“Similarly, heads of extra-ministerial departments, agencies and parastatals are to hand over to the most senior director/officer as may be peculiar to the organisation, in line with the service-wide Circular No. SGF.50/S. Il/C.2/268 of 4th December 2017.
“The contents of this circular and the incidental directives take effect immediately,” it added.
Those affected include Cabinet members like Ministers of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba all of whom are interested in the presidency and Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami who is said to be eyeing the Kebbi state governorship.
Others include the Minister of State Mines and Steel, Uche Ogar, who is running for the governorship position in Cross Rivers State, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who declared her ambition to contest for the senatorial seat in Plateau State.
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele who is not a cabinet member, but an appointee of the president is also affected.
Emefiele has approached the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from preventing him to contest the presidency while he remains as governor of the apex bank.
As of the time of filing this report, Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu, and Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba have all announced their resignation.
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