Lalong faces dilemma over quitting Tinubu’s cabinet

There are indications that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, may quit the President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet soon, except for a dilemma.

These are based on the Court of Appeal decision upholding the judgement of the tribunal which declared Simon Lalong the winner of the Plateau South senatorial election.

Based on the judgement, the former Plateau State governor had received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

Consequently, going by the body language of the minister, he may quit the cabinet of President Tinubu to join other politicians in the Senate.

Sources close to the minister, who was the director-general (DG) of the Bola Tinubu presidential council, disclosed that he (Lalong) would soon resign to become a federal lawmaker.

A source said: “The minister will very soon join the Senate. He will go there to ensure that President Bola Tinubu succeeds. The Senate is where the elders are and he wants to join them.

“A new younger person will be appointed by Mr. President as the minister representing Plateau State to replace His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, the honourable minister of labour and employment as soon as he resigns.

“You know he played a prominent role during the campaigns, he believes in Asiwaju and is ready to contribute to ensure that the government succeeds.”

The Appeal Court upheld the judgement of the tribunal which declared Lalong the winner of the Plateau South Senatorial election.

The three-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu gave the verdict.

On November 23, Lalong received his certificate of return as senator-elect in the 10th national assembly.

Indeed, Lalong and his associates visited the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to receive his certificate of return from the national commissioner, Mohammed Haruna.

In a related news item, Lalong was quoted as saying he was confused about whether he should stay as a minister in Tinubu’s cabinet or take his seat in the Senate.

The labour minister disclosed that he was confronted with indecision on the issue.