President Tinubu’s Minister resigns from cabinet

Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Simon Lalong, has resigned from his position in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet.

Mr. Lalong, a lawyer and two-term Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, tendered his resignation after Wednesday’s FEC meeting, in preparation for resumption at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.

He did so in preparation for his Senate seat, which he won after the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed his victory in the Plateau South Senatorial election that held on February 25, 2023.

He challenged the result, and victory was given to him by the appeal court.

The Court ordered the electoral commission to issue him the certificate of return, following the nullification of the election of Air Vice Marshall Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who has now vacated the seat.

Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong

He was, thereafter, issued with a Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on November 7, 2023.

He is expected to be sworn in this week by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Lalong was the immediate former governor of Plateau State and the Director-General of the Tinubu Presidential Council.

He said he would join the Senate to ensure that President Tinubu succeeds, adding that a new younger person would be appointed by the president as the minister representing Plateau State to replace him.

News Band reported on December 8 that the Labour and Employment Minister said he is yet to decide whether to take his seat at the Senate or remain as a minister.

According to the former governor of Plateau State, he is faced with indecision over the matter.

In a viral video, Lalong was seen telling an audience that he was confused and could not decide whether or not to take his seat at the Senate or remain minister, urging them to pray for him so that he could make informed decision.

A presidential aide, Imran Muhammad, wrote on his X handle last night that “President Tinubu has accepted Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong’s resignation from the cabinet. His valedictory will hold at the next FEC meeting.”

Also, the spokesman for APC in Plateau State, Sylvanus Namang also confirmed Lalong’s resignation from FEC.

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