Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has given an order to political appointees and civil servants interested in contesting in the 2023 general election to resign.
Sanwo-Olu said 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 election and those seeking elective offices to resign.
The governor gave the directive on Friday in a circular with no 012 titled: “Resignation of political appointees and all other public servants who may wish to seek elective offices.”
The circular was signed by the state Head of Service, HoS, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
In the memo, appointees seeking to be among delegates for political parties’ primaries for elective offices in 2023 were also asked to submit their resignation letters to the Secretary to the State Government.
According to the circular, all appointees and civil servants eyeing elective offices and aiming to participate in party primaries as well as other political activities should resign before April 19th, 2022.
The memo with Ref No: CIR/HOS/’22/Vol.1/017 stated that the move was in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
The circular in part read, “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 the 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 the standard procedure as provided in the Public Service Rules, (2015).”
