Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO), says she is still enjoying her job amid talks of
resignation.
On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that the WTO DG considered
resignation due to the “organisation’s historical inertia”.
Okonjo-Iweala, the seventh WTO director-general took effect
on March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to serve as
head of the institution.
Citing five WTO officials, Bloomberg reported that they
explained that Okonjo-Iweala privately floated the idea that she may resign if
there is no headway in dealing with/providing solutions to the critical issues
of the institution.
“Okonjo-Iweala has
repeatedly told ambassadors and staff that she could easily walk away from the
job, and reminds them she hasn’t bought any furniture for her temporary home in
Geneva,” Bloomberg quoted the officials.
The media firm said WTO has faced “deep divisions and lack
of trust” in the past as the institution’s “rigid negotiating structure and
disparate interests of its diverse membership have precluded the organisation
from delivering anything substantial for the better part of the past decade”.
Aside from resigning, officials also claimed that they
suspect she (Okonjo-Iweala) wants to run for upcoming Nigeria’s presidential
election in 2023.
Responding, Okonjo-Iweala told Bloomberg that she has no
interest in running for president, adding that the allegation is “utterly
ridiculous and not true”.
“I just got here. I am enjoying what I’m doing. It is a very
exciting job, and I am trying to have some success here.”
John Denton, International Chamber of Commerce
secretary-general, said, “the idea of Dr. Ngozi stepping down early would be
anathema to the business community”.
“We have backed her forward-looking agenda, we want her to
commit and maintain that.
“We see no reason why she would even be thinking about
ending her team, and frankly — she has told us point-blank that she is not.”
Okonjo-Iweala’s term of office is expected to expire on
August 31, 2025.
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