Bt Yahaya Umar, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu will today swear in seven new ministers confirmed by the Senate.
The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed this yesterday wrote on social media platform X that “President Bola Tinubu will swear in the ministers at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, sequel to their confirmation by the Senate last Wednesday.
“The Ministers are Dr Nentawe Yilwatda – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Dingyadi – Minister of Labour and Employment; Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu – Minister of State Foreign Affairs.
“Others are Dr Jumoke Oduwole – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment), Idi Maiha – Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Ata – Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Dr Suwaiba Ahmad – Minister of State Education.
It would be recalled that Tinubu had On October 23, reassigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios, while five others were sacked seven new ministers.
Earlier, Onanuga while giving rational for the cabinet rejig said the decision followed a careful assessment process led by Hadiza Bala Usman, the President’s Social Adviser on Policy.
According to him, the appraisal was not taken lightly and had been part of the President’s plan since the ministers were sworn in last year.
He recalled that in August 2023, during the swearing in ceremony, President Tinubu made it clear that he had the authority to hire and fire ministers, warning that he would not hesitate to remove those who did not meet expectations.
“Hadiza brought technology to it, asking Nigerians to score the ministers”, Onanuga said. “The results were based on empirical facts, the public perception of these ministers, and it was the people who actually did the scorecard. The President acted on those results” he said.
Besides, the resolve resurfaced at a ministerial retreat in October 2023, where Tinubu reiterated his intention to consistently review the performance of his cabinet.
The review led to the removal from the of Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education), Uju Kennedy Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Mohammed Gwarzo (State for Housing), Jamila Ibrahim (Youth Development), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), and suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, who has since been replaced.
