Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, Resigns to Assume Senate Role
Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, Resigns to Assume Senate Role
In a strategic move, Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has officially resigned from his position in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet, paving the way for his impending swearing-in as the Plateau South senator.
Lalong emerged victorious in the Plateau South Senatorial election and is set to be sworn in this week by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, according to reliable sources.
The formal announcement of Lalong’s resignation took place after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, as reported by The Nation. President Tinubu accepted the resignation, and a valedictory session in honour of Lalong is scheduled for the next FEC meeting, according to Imran Muhammad, a presidential aide.
Sylvanus Namang, the APC spokesman in Plateau State, corroborated Lalong’s departure from the FEC, emphasizing the significant implications of his move to the Senate. Lalong received his Certificate of Return following the Court of Appeal’s order, which nullified the election of Air Vice Marshal Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Recent consultations between the President, party leaders, and Lalong focused on the selection of his replacement in the FEC. The move to the Senate is perceived as a substantial boost for the APC, enhancing its representation in the Senate and averting a supplementary senatorial election that would have followed Lalong’s resignation.
Lalong’s wealth of experience, having served two terms as the Plateau State House of Assembly Speaker, positions him as a de facto ranking senator. His transition to the Senate marks a new chapter in his political career, and his resignation from the cabinet signifies a strategic realignment within the political landscape.
