Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has officially stepped down from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, confirming previous speculations about his departure.
Lalong, who was torn between retaining his ministerial role or pursuing a legislative position, is set to assume the Plateau South Senatorial seat following an affirmation by the Court of Appeal on November 7, 2023.
A presidential aide, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Punch, revealed to The Punch, “Lalong has resigned. But it was not at the FEC meeting itself. It must have been after the meeting because, if it were earlier, the President or SGF would have announced it during the meeting,”
The former Plateau State Governor is slated for a swearing-in ceremony later this week, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Lalong’s engagement with Tinubu’s Campaign Organisation for the February Presidential election had preceded his bid for the Senate, which initially resulted in an electoral loss as per the Independent National Electoral Commission’s results.
However, his appeal at the Court of Appeal turned the tide in his favor.
According to reports, Lalong, a seasoned lawyer and former two-term Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, tendered his resignation to the President privately after the last Federal Executive Council meeting held at the State House on Wednesday.
Imran Mohammad, a Twitter user associated with the President’s camp, corroborated this, stating, “President Tinubu, Accepted Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, Resignation from the cabinet, his valedictory will hold next FEC meeting.”
