FG Directs Ministers, Ambassadors, Others With Political Ambitions To Hand Over

Federal Government has directed all Ministers, Ambassadors and Heads of Ministries and Departmental Agencies of Government (MDAs) affected by the presidential directive to resign ahead of the 2023 polls to hand over to most senior officials in their institutions.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari during the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council FEC meeting on Wednesday directed Ministers and aides who have expressed intentions to run for elective offices in the 2023 general elections to resign their appointments immediately.

In line with President Buhari’s directive, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in the early hours of Thursday, issued the circular, which provided details of the President’s directive.

The instruction, which takes immediate effect, will affect not just members of the cabinet but also ambassadors, heads of government agencies, parastatal and departments with intentions to run for office.

They have up to Monday, May 16 to turn in their resignation according to the presidential directive.

The circular reads: “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.

“Consequently, Mr. President has directed that the affected office holders aspiring to run for various offices in the 2023 General Elections, 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 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.”