President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele to hand over.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha made this known in a circular obtained on Thursday morning.
President Buhari gave the order after first asking members of his cabinet who have the interest to contest office in the 2023 general election to resign.
In the circular released by Mustapha on Buhari’s directive, heads of extra-ministerial departments, agencies, parastatals of goverment, ambassadors and other political office holders who have the interest to contest the upcoming presidential, gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections were also affected.
According to the circular, 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.
The Circular reads: “Mr. President has observed and noted the expression of interest and intention by some members of the Federal Executive Council, Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies, Parastatals of Goverment, Ambassadors and other Political Office holders to contest the upcoming Presidential, Gubernatorial, National and State Assemblies’ elections.
“Consequently, Mr. President has directed that the affected office holders aspiring to run for various offices in the 2023 General Elections, should tender their resignation on or before Monday, the 16th of May, 2022.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this 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.
“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. I/C 2/268 of 4 December, 2017”.
