Niger governor sacks political appointees

Gov. Umar Bago on Thursday terminated the appointment of all political appointees and directed them to handover with immediate effect.

The directive is contained in a statement issued in Minna by Aishatu Usman, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs, office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Those affected were directors general, coordinators, project managers, senior special assistants, special assistants, political assistants, ward ambassadors, and personal assistants to political appointees.

According to the statement, statutory commissions and local government pension boards are exempt from the directive.

They were to continue to hold office as stipulated by relevant laws governing their appointments.

The statement ordered the political appointees to hand over the affairs of their offices to permanent secretaries or the most senior officers in their respective agencies.