Lai Mohammed, Masari tipped as Tinubu shops for Lalong’s replacement

Indications emerged on Monday that President Bola Tinubu has begun consultations over who succeeds Simon Lalong as the next Minister of Labour and Employment.

BusinessDay Villa Sources said the President had met separately with Lai Mohammed, the immediate past Information and Culture Minister and Aminu Masari, a former Governor of Katsina state who replaced Lalong as Labour Minister.

This followed the resignation of Lalong, former Minister of Labour and Employment, from the Federal Executive Council, FEC.

Imran Muhammad, a presidential aide, confirmed the acceptance of Lalong’s resignation by President Tinubu. Muhammad also noted that a valedictory session for Lalong will be held at the next FEC meeting.

Read also COP28: Tinubu’s hypocrisy and wishful thinking on climate change

The President had met the two chieftains of the All Progressive Congress, APC, separately last week as part of the consultations, according to BusinessDay sources at the presidential Villa, Abuja.

While Aminu Masari served as the immediate past Governor of Katsina state, Lai Mohammed was the immediate past Minister of Information under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

It is not, however, confirmed whether the President will pick any of them to replace Lalong, especially because the office was zoned to the North Central.

BusinessDay gathered on Monday that the odds might favour Lai Mohammed, who hails from Kwara state, if the President stick to the zoning.

Read also Intervene to curb drug price hike, APC chieftain urges Tinubu

Kwara state also already has the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, in the person of Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ( SAN)

Lalong, a former two-term Plateau State House of Assembly Speaker, had served as President Bola Tinubu’s Campaign Council Director General in the February Presidential poll.

He contested for the Senatorial Seat but was initially declared the loser by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

He, however, challenged the result, and the Court of Appeal ruled in his favour, overturning the previous verdict.