Tinubu swears in 45 new ministers
Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has administered oath of office to 45 new ministers who will constitute the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The swearing-in ceremony of the ministers which took place at the Conference Center of the State House, Abuja on Monday, had in attendance Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abass; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Kwara State Governor, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman.
During the event, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who served as compere of the event, revealed that the ministers will be sworn-in in several batches- a guide that was duly followed.
As the event unfolded, Val9ja News learnt that the first batch comprised of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State Gas in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, and Minister of Education Tahir Maman.
The second batch included the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of State (Oil), Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari.
Similarly, the third batch of ministers sworn-in in Abuja comprised of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh.
Also, the fourth batch included the minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, Minister of Transportation, Alkali Sa’id, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Anite, and Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru.
The fifth batch of ministers to be sworn-in were Minister of State Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo, Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mariya Mahmud, Minister of Housing and Urban development, Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
The sixth included Minister of State Education, Yusuf Sunumu, Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, and Minister of State Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman- Ibrahim while the seventh batch of ministers sworn-in today were Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, Minister of State Environment, Ishak Salako, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.
The eighth batch included Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Power, Adedayo Adelabu, Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesome Wike.
Finally, the ninth batch of ministers who were sworn-in today were Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, Minister of State for Steel Development, Maigari Ahmadu, Minister of Police affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, and Minster of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Zephaniah Jisalo.
Recall that that Senate confirmed 45 of President Tinubu’s 48 nominations for ministerial positions after it completed screening.
During the screening, three ministerial nominees were dropped. They are former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and former Executive Director (Business Development) Nigeria Export – Import Bank, Mrs Stella Okotete from Delta and nominee from Taraba State, Danladi Abubakar.
Following the successful screening of 45 ministerial nominees, the President last Wednesday, unveiled the portfolios of his ministers.
However, the ministerial nominees who were not cleared by the Senate are expected to be replaced any moment with new nominees from their states.