Following increasing calls for President Bola Tinubu to restructure his cabinet, he has dismissed five ministers, reassigned ten ministers to new portfolios and nominated seven new ministers for Senate confirmation..
Calls for a cabinet reshuffle have intensified as many Nigerians express dissatisfaction with the performance of certain ministers, particularly amid unprecedented inflation, a challenging economic climate, and escalating insecurity.
During the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, the President dismissed Uju-Ken Ohanenye as Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism; Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education; Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development; and Jamila Ibrahim as Minister of Youth Development.
Following these changes, Tinubu nominated Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, effectively concluding the tenure of suspended minister Betta Edu.
Additionally, the President nominated Maigari Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Idi Maiha as Minister for the newly established Livestock Development Ministry, Yusuf Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State for Education.
SCRAPPED MINISTRIES
Earlier on Wednesday, the President announced the dissolution of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, replacing it with the Ministry of Regional Development, which will oversee the operations of all regional development commissions.
The regional development commissions under the new Ministry include the Niger Delta Development Commission, the South East Development Commission, the North East Development Commission, and the North West Development Commission.
Furthermore, Tinubu dissolved the Ministry of Sports Development, transferring its responsibilities to the National Sports Commission to foster a vibrant sports economy.
The President also approved the merger of the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture, which will now operate as the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
BACKSTORY
In August 2023, shortly after his inauguration, Tinubu appointed 48 ministers. The Senate promptly screened and confirmed these appointments.
Notably, one minister, Betta Edu, was suspended in January, while another, Simon Lalong, transitioned to the Senate.
In September, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga indicated that a reshuffle was forthcoming, although no specific timeline was provided.
