Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed all members of the State Executive Council and political appointees who are delegates to the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential primaries and those seeking elective offices to resign.
The directive was contained in a circular by the state Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, dated April 14.
The circular, which was copied to all stakeholders, was titled: “Resignation of political appointees and all other public servants who may wish to seek elective offices.”
The circular
It read in part: “It is hereby notified for general information, in line with the recently amended Electoral Act and Provisions of Rule: 040524 of the Lagos State Public Service Rules (2015), that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, has approved the release of all political appointees who are delegates to state House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship and Presidential Primaries Election.
“It includes those who are holdings positions in the party as well as public servants who may wish to engage in partisan political activities or may seek elective offices.
“Accordingly, all persons seeking elective offices are required to put in their letters of resignation.
“In this regard, all letters of resignation by State Executive Council Members, which should be submitted not later than April 19, 2022, should be addressed to Secretary to the State Government, SSG, while letters of resignation of all other categories of political appointees and public servants should be submitted to the Head of Service, office Alausa, Ikeja, on the same date stated above.
“Further to the above, civil servants are required to comply with standard procedure as provided in the Public Service Rules, (2015).”
This measure, it became necessary in order to allow aspirants make adequate preparations for the realisation of their aspirations as well as not to derail the vision, mission and developmental agenda of the present administration, based on THEMES.
It was also gathered that some special advisers to the governor of various ministries are secretly nursing political ambition in 2023, but were yet to resign due to the uncertainties on their chances to get the party’s ticket, particularly in the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Meanwhile, at press time it could not be ascertained the total number of those who have turned in their resignation letters, as the deadline for submission had elapsed.
