President Muhammadu Buhari has asked all Ministers, heads and members of extra-ministerial departments, Agencies and parastatals of the government, ambassadors as well as other political appointees who desire to contest for elective offices to resign on or before Monday, May 16.
The president gave the order in a two-paged letter seen by BusinessDay Wednesday, signed by Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation.
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“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,” the letter read.
“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 in the organisation in line with the service wide circular No. SGF.50/S 11/C.2/268 of 4th December 2017.”
The categories of senior government officials who must now leave because of involvement in partisan politics has been broadened to include heads of government agencies like the central bank governor and ambassadors.
