President Bola Tinubu has officially accepted the resignation of Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, according to a statement from the Presidency on Monday.
News About Nigeria reports that Lalong, a former governor of Plateau State, tendered his resignation as he prepares to assume the position of senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, following a recent appeal court ruling affirming his victory.
The resignation, although not formally announced during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, is said to have occurred afterward.
A presidential aide clarified that if the resignation had taken place earlier, it would have been announced during the FEC meeting.
Lalong is expected to be sworn in as a senator later this week by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Simon Lalong contested for the Senate seat during the previous elections but initially lost, according to the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Subsequently, he challenged the outcome in court and secured a favourable judgement at the Court of Appeal.
Lalong, a lawyer and former two-term Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, presented his resignation privately to President Tinubu after last Wednesday’s FEC meeting at the State House.
Confirming the acceptance of the resignation, a Twitter user aligned with the President’s camp, Imran Mohammad, tweeted, “President Tinubu, Accepted Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, Resignation from the cabinet, his valedictory will hold next FEC meeting.”
However, it was later clarified that there would be no FEC meeting this week, making last Wednesday’s session Lalong’s probable final appearance as a member of the council.
