Appoints new ministers
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate implementation of eight far-reaching actions to reinvigorate the Administration’s capacity for optimal efficiency pursuant of his commitment to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.
The eight actions approved by Mr. President are outlined as follows:
1. The renaming of the Ministry of Nigeria Delta Development to Ministry of Regional Development to oversee the activities of all the Regional Development Commissions. The Regional Development Commissions to be under the supervision of the new Ministry are; the Niger Delta Development Commission, the South East Development Commission, the North East Development and the North West Development Commission.
2. The immediate winding up of the Ministry of Sports Development and the transfer of its functions to the National Sports Commission in order to develop a vibrant sports economy;
3. The merger of the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture to become Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy;
4. The re-assignment of ten (10) ministers to new ministerial portfolios;
5. The discharge of five (5) Ministers.
6. The nomination of seven (7) new ministers for onward transmission to Senate for confirmation;
7. The appointment of Shehu Dikko as Chairmanof the National Sports Commission;
8. The appointment of Sunday Akin Dare as Special Adviser to the President on PublicCommunication and Orientation working fromthe Ministry of Information and National Orientation
Meanwhile, some ministers have been reassigned to new portfolios.
In the new arrangement, former Minister of State, Education, Hon Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu has been reassigned Minister of State Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. Also, Minister State, Health, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, has been assigned the substantive Minister of Education, while Barr. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, former Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation is now Minister of State Works.
In the same vein, Hon. Abubakar Eshiokpekha Momoh. Who used to be Minister of Niger Delta Development is now Minister of the newly create Ministry of Regional Development, whereas Uba Maigari Ahmadu, former Minister of State Steel Development is now Minister of State Regional Development.
Also, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite who served as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment is now Minister of State Finance, while Sen. John Owan Enoh who was Minister of Sports Development is now Minister of State Trade and Investment and Industry.
Similarly, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim who was Minister of State, Police Affairs is now Minister of Women Affairs, while Ayodele Olawande who was Minister of State for Youth Development is now substantive Minister for Youth Development, and Dr. Salako Iziaq Adekunle Adeboye, former Minister of State, Environment is now Minister of State, Health.
Whereas, Barr. Uju-Ken Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism, Prof. Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim Minister of Youth Development were discharged, seven other Nigerians of note have been nominated to fill in the gaps.
These include Dr Nentawe Yilwatda who has been nominated as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegu-Ojukwu, Minister of State Foreign Affairs; Dr Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Idi Mukhtar Maiha, to head Ministry of Livestock Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development and Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State Education.
In a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President thanked the outgoing members of the Federal Executive Council for their service to the nation while wishing them the best in their future endeavours.
He then charged the newly appointed ministers as well as their reassigned colleagues to see their appointment as a call to serve the nation.
He added that all appointees must understand the administration’s eagerness and determination to set Nigeria on the path to irreversible growth and invest the best of their abilities into the actualisation of the government’s priorities.