President Buhari has reportedly approved the recommendation of former Coordinating Minister for the Economy under President Goodluck Jonathan administration for the position of the Director-General of the world trade organization, WTO. With this, he dropped the candidacy of Yonos Frederick Agah, Nigeria’s permanent representative at the WTO. Nigeria has been backing Agah for that position.
The election is billed to hold in Geneva next year. If she wins, she will serve for a four-year term from 2021 to 2025. She will replace the current president, Roberto Azevêdo as the seventh President of the Organisation. According to the General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand, the nomination window begins from 8 June 2020 to 8th July 2020. Azevêdo is completing a second term.
“The Chair will inform WTO members of nominations as soon as they are received. After 8 July, Chair Walker will issue to members a consolidated list of all candidates. Shortly after the nomination period has closed, candidates will be invited to meet with members from Mexico, and at a special General Council meeting, present their views and take questions from the membership”, according to a document on the selection process.
The standard rule is for nominations to be submitted at least nine months before the election. It is done by the general council which consists of member states. nominations are usually done by home countries of nominees.
This is a developing story.