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Simon Lalong

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Simon Lalong
CON
Senator for Plateau South
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 December 2023
Preceded byNapoleon Bali
Minister of Labour and Employment
In office
21 August 2023 – 20 December 2023
Preceded byChris Ngige
Governor of Plateau State
In office
29 May 2015 – 29 May 2023
DeputySonni Gwanle Tyoden
Preceded byJonah David Jang
Succeeded byCaleb Mutfwang
Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly
In office
2000–2007
Personal details
Born
Simon Bako Lalong

(1963-05-05) 5 May 1963 (age 61)
Shendam, Northern Region (now in Plateau State), Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
EducationMasters Degree in Law from University of Jos
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer
  • businessman

Simon Bako Lalong CON (born 5 May 1963) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who has served as the senator representing the Plateau South senatorial district since 2023. He previously served as the minister of labour and employment in 2023, and as the governor of Plateau State from 2015 to 2023.[1][2][3][4][5]

Education

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After his elementary and secondary schools education in Shendam Local Government Area, Lalong proceeded to the School of Preliminary Studies (S.P.S) Keffi, passing out in 1986. He then continued to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in Law. This was immediately followed by the Law School in Lagos, where he was also called to the Bar. He later obtained a master's degree in Law from the University of Jos, in 1996.[6][7]

Professional career

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Lalong's professional career as an attorney lasted between 1992, the year following his graduation from law school, and 1998, the dawn of Nigeria's new democracy. During this period he worked with a few law firms, one of which he co-owned. Between 1992 and 1994, he was the Deputy Scribe of the Nigerian Bar Association in Plateau State. After a political stint that lasted seven years he again returned to legal practice as the Principal Partner of Simon B. Lalong and Co, until 2015.[6][7]

Political life

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In 1998, Lalong temporarily discarded legal practice to pursue a political career. Representing the People's Democratic Party (PDP), he successfully contested his native Shendam Constituency and entered the Plateau State House of Assembly. In October 2000, he became the speaker of the assembly, a position he occupied until 2006. He was the longest serving speaker of the State's house of assembly. During that period he was two times (in 2001 and in 2002) elected as the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of the 36 states of Nigeria.

In 2014, Lalong joined the race contest to succeed outgoing governor, Jonah Jang, on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). He won and was sworn in as the new governor of Plateau State on 29 May 2015.[8][9][10]

In the March 9 Plateau gubernatorial election and March 23, 2019 Plateau State, Lalong won re-election as governor of Plateau State, polling 595,582 votes against his rival, former General Jeremiah Husseini of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 546,813 votes.[11] He was sworn in for a second term on 29 May 2019.[12][13][14]

In the 2023 general election, Lalong contested the seat of the senate to represent Plateau South senatorial zone in the National Assembly, but lost the election to Napoleon Bali of the People's Democratic Party.[15] Lalong was later appointed Minister of Labour and Employment on 2 August 2023.[16]

In November 2023, an appeals court declared Lalong as the rightful winner of the 2023 senatorial election.[17]

See also

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Award

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In October 2022, a Nigerian National Honour of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Supreme Court Affirms Lalong As Governor Of Plateau State". Sahara Reporters. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  2. ^ Ajibola, Akinola. "Supreme Court Upholds Simon Lalong's Election As Plateau Governor". Channels TV. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  3. ^ "EXTRA: I won re-election because I pay salaries, says Lalong". TheCable. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  4. ^ "FG won't allow us deal with insecurity in Plateau — Lalong". Vanguard. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  5. ^ Abdulsalami Ahovi, Isa (11 February 2022). "Lalong assures ALGON of collaboration against insecurity, others". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Simon Lalong". governorlalong.com.ng. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Official Website of Plateau State". www.plateaustate.gov.ng. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Simon Lalong Victorious In Plateau State". Sahara Reporters. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  9. ^ "APC's Lalong wins Plateau guber election". P.M. News. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. ^ Akintoye, K (15 October 2015). "Plateau Election Tribunal Upholds Gov. Lalong's Election". Channels Television. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Plateau: Governor Lalong speaks after winning reelection". Daily Trust. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  12. ^ Sanni, Kunle (24 March 2019). "BREAKING: Simon Lalong re-elected as Plateau state governor". Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Lalong Re-elected As Plateau Governor". aitonline.tv. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  14. ^ Wande, S-Davies (24 March 2019). "BREAKING: Governor Lalong reelected for second term in Plateau". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Gov. Lalong's loss of senatorial contest, Plateau's loss – APC's spokesman". The Guardian. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Lalong, Oyetola, 17 others make fresh ministerial list". Business Day. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  17. ^ Ibekwe, Nicholas (7 November 2023). "JUST IN: Appeal Court declares Lalong winner of Plateau senatorial election". Premium Times. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Full List: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation Newspaper". The Nation. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
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