President Bola Tinubu has officially accepted the resignation of Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, as confirmed by the Presidency on Monday.
Lalong’s departure comes as he prepares to transition to a new role as the Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, following a decisive victory affirmed by an appeal court ruling dated November 7, 2023.
Simon Lalong, a former Plateau State Governor, is poised to take the oath of office later this week. Senate President Godswill Akpabio is expected to administer the swearing-in ceremony, marking the commencement of Lalong’s tenure in the National Assembly.
Lalong Resigns, Takes Plateau South Senate Seat
Lalong’s journey to the Senate was not without its challenges. Despite a previous electoral setback in the race for the Senate office, he pursued legal avenues and emerged victorious at the Court of Appeal. This legal triumph overturned the results initially declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Prior to his ministerial role, Lalong played a crucial role in the political space as the Director-General of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation in the months leading up to the February Presidential election.
A lawyer by profession and a two-term Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Lalong reportedly tendered his resignation in private to President Tinubu after the Federal Executive Council meeting held last Wednesday at the State House. This meeting is now believed to be Lalong’s final appearance as a council member, especially considering the absence of a Federal Executive Council meeting scheduled for this week.