Serving cabinet ministers, heads of government agencies, ambassadors, and other political appointees with political ambitions in 2023 have been asked to leave the government.
Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, issued the circular on May 11, 2022.
All serving ministers, the Federation’s Head of Civil Service, the National Security Adviser, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and the heads of extra-ministerial departments received the circular.
President Muhammadu Buhari, according to Mustapha, has observed and noted some members of the Federal Executive Council, heads of extra-ministerial departments, agencies, and government parastatals, ambassadors, and other political office holders expressing interest in contesting the upcoming Presidential, Gubernatorial, National, and State Assemblies elections.
According to him, the affected ministers must give over to the Ministers of State where they exist or the Permanent Secretary where there is no Minister of State for the smooth operation of the government machinery and the country’s overseas missions.
According to protocol, ambassadors should take over to their Deputy Heads of Mission or the most senior Foreign Service Officer.
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“Similarly, Heads of Extra Ministerial Departments, Agencies, and Parastatals are to transfer over to the highest senior Director/Officer as may be particular to the organization,” according to the circular.
The contents of the circular, as well as the incidental directives, take effect immediately, according to Mustapha.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had filed a suit demanding enforcement of his right to run for President in 2023 without retiring from his current position, according to reports
Emefiele had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and four others before a Federal High Court on Monday.
Meanwhile, four serving ministers under the President Buhari administration have resigned following the directive from their principal on Wednesday.
They are Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister for Transport, Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, and Ogbonnaya Onu, minister of science and technology.
The Ministers resigned after Buhari ordered members of the Federal Executive Council seeking elective offices to resign on or before Monday, May 16.
