President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in seven newly appointed ministers at the Council Chambers of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The newly sworn-in ministers are: Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as the Minister of Labour and Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Also appointed are Jumoke Oduwole as the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment; Idi Mukhtar Maiha as the Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development; and Suwaiba Said Ahmad as the Minister of State for Education.
In his address, President Tinubu encouraged the ministers to embrace their responsibilities without hesitation.
“Nigeria’s head is above the waters. This ship will not sink. We will not run away from our responsibilities,” he said.
“I am proud to lead you and we will lead you to success and prosperity… We have taken the bull by the horns. We have stopped the scavengers and profiteers…”
“… Nigeria’s head is above the waters. This ship will not sink. We will not run away from our responsibilities. I am proud to lead you and we will lead you to success and prosperity… We have taken the bull by the horns. We have stopped the scavengers and profiteers… “…
— Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) November 4, 2024
Monday’s swearing-in followed the recent appointments by President Tinubu and their confirmation by the Senate.
The push for a cabinet reshuffle intensified amid Nigeria’s worsening economic challenges, which have impacted living standards across the nation.
In response, President Tinubu acted in October, dismissing five ministers and nominating seven new ones. Those relieved of their duties included Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Tahir Mamman (Education), Abdullahi Gwarzo (State, Housing and Urban Development), and Jamila Ibrahim (Youth Development).
Additionally, the president reassigned portfolios for 10 other ministers.
Tinubu appointed a 48-person cabinet in August 2023, just three months after his inauguration.
While the Senate swiftly screened them and confirmed their nominations, one of them Simon Lalong moved the upper lawmaking body. Betta Edu (in charge of the Humanitarian Ministry) was suspended owing to allegations of corruption.
Scrapping, Merger
In his recent cabinet reshuffle, President Tinubu dissolved two ministries: the Niger Delta Development Ministry and the Sports Development Ministry.
In place of the Niger Delta Development Ministry, he introduced the Ministry of Regional Development, which will oversee the activities of various development commissions.
The commissions under this new Ministry of Regional Development include the Niger Delta Development Commission, South East Development Commission, North East Development Commission, and North West Development Commission.
For the responsibilities of the Sports Development Ministry, Tinubu assigned them to the National Sports Commission (NSC), with a directive to “build a vibrant sports economy.”
He also approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Arts and Culture, creating the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.