President Bola Tinubu has undertaken a significant cabinet reshuffle, reassigning ten ministers and dismissing five others in a move to boost his administration’s efficiency.
The changes were announced following a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
LEADERSHIP reports that the president’s action has been long expected. Many Nigerians had called for such a cabinet shakeup on the premise that the administration was not making the required impact on the citizens due to underperforming ministers and other appointees.
Among those relieved of their duties are Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye; Minister of Education Tahir Mamman; Minister of Tourism Lola Ade-John; Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo and Minister of Youth Development Jamila Bio Ibrahim.
Speaking to State House correspondents, special adviser on information and strategy Bayo Onanuga confirmed that President Tinubu’s reorganisation includes the dissolution of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development and the Ministry of Sports Development.
The responsibilities of the sports ministry have been transferred to the National Sports Commission. At the same time, a new Ministry of Regional Development has been established to oversee the Niger Delta Affairs and other regional agencies.
In another significant appointment, Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, widow of the late Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu, has been named minister of state for foreign affairs.
Also, Sunday Dare, former minister of sports, has been appointed special adviser to the president on public communication and orientation.
President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Shehu Dikko as the chairman of the National Sports Commission.
Also appointed are Nentawe Yilwatda, minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment; Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, trade and investment; Idi Mukhtar Maiha, minister of livestock development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, minister of state, housing and urban development and Suwaiba Said Ahmad, minister of state education.
The Ministry of Regional Development will oversee critical agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission, and North East Development Commission.
Engr Abubakar Momoh, the new minister, said the NDDC will remain operational under this new structure, which aims to strengthen regional oversight and coordination.
The restructuring also includes merging the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Arts and Culture, creating a unified entity that promotes art, culture, tourism, and the creative economy. Hanatu Musawa will head it.
Ten ministers reassigned to new portfolios include Yusuf Tanko Sununu, who was reassigned as minister of state for education to minister of state for humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction.
Morufu Olatunji Alausa – from minister of state for health to minister of education; Bello Muhammad Goronyo -from minister of state for water resources and sanitation to minister of state for works; Abubakar Eshiokpekha Momoh – from minister of niger delta development to minister of regional development; Uba Maigari Ahmadu, from the minister of state for steel development to the minister of state for regional development.
Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite went from minister of industry, trade and investment to minister of state for finance and John Owan Enoh went from minister of sports development to minister of trade and investment.
Others are Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who changed from minister of state for police affairs to minister of women affairs; Ayodele Olawande, who changed from minister of state for youth development to minister of youth development; and Dr Salako Iziaq Adekunle Adeboye, who changed from minister of state for the environment to minister of state for health.
In addition, the president has nominated seven new ministers for Senate confirmation.
There are Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as minister of labour and employment, Bianca Odinaka Odumegu-Ojukwu as minister of state for foreign affairs, Jumoke Oduwole as minister in charge of industry, trade, and investment and Idi Mukhtar Maiha as minister of livestock development; Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as minister of housing and urban development, and Suwaiba Said Ahmad as minister of state for education.
President Tinubu thanked outgoing ministers for their service and urged newly appointed officials to view their roles as a commitment to national development.
He stressed that all appointees must align with his administration’s goals for sustainable growth and effective governance.
Merged Ministries’ Handover To Be Completed By October 30 – SGF
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has said the handover process for ministries affected by the recent cabinet reshuffle and restructuring will be completed by October 30.
Following President Bola Tinubu’s approval, several ministries are undergoing mergers, renaming, or dissolution as part of a broader effort to streamline government operations.
Among the fundamental changes is the merger of the Federal Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy to form the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
The Federal Ministry of Sports Development is dissolved, and its functions transferred to the National Sports Commission.
Senator Akume emphasised that all outgoing ministers must hand over to their respective permanent secretaries, where necessary, to ensure a seamless transition.
In ministries with no incoming ministers yet, permanent secretaries will temporarily assume control until new appointments are made and confirmed by the Senate.
The SGF also confirmed that the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation are jointly coordinating the merger processes and winding down of defunct ministries. Directives have already been issued to ensure the smooth implementation of the President’s approval.
The restructuring also includes the renaming of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the Ministry of Regional Development, expanding its mandate to oversee regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), the South East Development Commission (SEDC), and other similar bodies.
All changes are expected to take full effect by the set deadline, with permanent secretaries directed to submit detailed handover notes to the SGF for official record-keeping.
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