President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the deadline for the resignation of political appointees in his administration, who are seeking to contest in the 2023 elections.
The president had Wednesay ordered ministers and federal appointees vying for positions to immediately resign their present office in line with section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Later on Wednesday night, the Secrerary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, conveyed the president’s new position asking the affected appointees to resign on or before Monday 16 May this year.
The statement read in part, “Consequently, Mr. President has directed that the affected office holders aspiring to run for various offices in the 2023 general election, should tender their resignation on or before Monday, the 16th of May, 2022.
The 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.
It stated further that 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.”
