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Abuja, October 23, 2024 — In a move aimed at reducing government expenditure and streamlining operations, President Bola Tinubu has reshuffled his cabinet, sacking five ministers and appointing seven new ones. Among the newly appointed is Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, widow of Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who has been named Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
The president’s decision comes at a time of mounting public pressure to address Nigeria’s economic challenges and inefficiencies within the federal ministries. Two vacant ministerial positions were filled in the latest appointments: the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, formerly led by Betta Edu, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, previously under Simon Lalong.
Ministers Sacked:
Ministry of Women Affairs: Uju Ken-Ohaneye
Ministry of Education: Tahir Mamman
Ministry of Tourism: Lola Ade-John
Ministry of Housing: Abdullahi Gwarzo
Ministry of Youth Development: Jamilo Bio Ibrahim
New Appointees:
Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi – Minister of Labour & Employment
Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu – Minister of State, Foreign Affairs
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment)
Idi Mukhtar Maiha – Minister of Livestock Development
Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata – Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development
Suwaiba Said Ahmad, PhD – Minister of State, Education
Structural Changes:
In addition to the appointments, President Tinubu’s administration has dissolved and restructured several ministries:
Ministry of Sports has been dissolved into the National Sports Commission.
Ministry of Tourism has been merged with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy.
Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has been scrapped and replaced by five Regional Development Commissions:
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
North West Development Commission
South East Development Commission
South West Development Commission
North East Development Commission
This new structure is expected to focus on regional development, allowing the government to better address the unique needs of Nigeria’s diverse geopolitical zones.
Public Reactions:
Despite these changes, there has been widespread skepticism among Nigerians, many of whom had anticipated the dismissal of key ministers, including the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu. Adelabu, in particular, has faced harsh criticism after multiple national grid collapses within the last 10 months, a record high under his tenure.
President Tinubu, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to the outgoing ministers for their service to the nation and wished them success in their future endeavors. However, with the reshuffle, the president faces the ongoing challenge of restoring public confidence and delivering tangible economic improvements in the months ahead.
