ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, removing five ministers from office and appointing seven new candidates pending Senate confirmation.
The president reassigned several key ministers, signalling a broader reorganisation of his administration.
Yusuf Sununu, previously the Minister of State for Education, was reassigned as the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Olatunji Alausa, formerly the Minister of State for Health, will now lead the Ministry of Education.
In other changes, Bello Goronyo was moved from his role as Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation to become Minister of State for Works.
Abubakar Momoh, previously Minister of Niger Delta Development, was reassigned to lead the newly established Ministry of Regional Development.
Uba Maigari Ahmadu, formerly Minister of State for Steel Development, will now serve as the Minister of State for Regional Development.
Among the notable reassignments is Doris Uzoka-Anite, who was moved from the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to become the Minister of State for Finance, where she will work alongside the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
Sports Minister John Enoh was reassigned to serve as the new Minister of State for Trade and Investment.
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who previously held the position of Minister of State for Police Affairs, was reassigned as the Minister of Women Affairs.
Ayodele Olawande, who had served as Minister of State for Youth Development, was elevated to become the Minister of Youth Development, while Iziak Salako was moved from Minister of State for Environment to the role of Minister of State for Health.
Dissolution of Ministries and Establishment of New Entities
As part of the broader government restructuring, Tinubu announced the dissolution of two key ministries: the Ministry of Niger Delta Development and the Ministry of Sports Development.
The responsibilities of these dissolved ministries will be redistributed, with a new Ministry of Regional Development overseeing all regional commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission, as well as commissions from the North West, South West, and North East regions.
“The creation of the Ministry of Regional Development reflects the administration’s focus on enhancing regional development across Nigeria,” said Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, in a tweet following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The National Sports Commission will now manage the responsibilities previously held by the Ministry of Sports Development, marking a significant shift in how sports activities are governed in the country.
In a related move, the FEC also approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy, creating a unified entity to boost synergy between the tourism and creative industries.
Public Pressure and Need for Change
The reshuffle follows growing public frustration over the performance of some ministers since Tinubu’s administration took office in May 2023.
Many Nigerians have voiced concerns about the government’s handling of the economy, with inflation at record highs and insecurity persisting in many parts of the country.
Calls for a cabinet reshuffle have been growing in recent months.
In September, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga hinted at an impending reorganization but did not specify when the changes would occur.
Tinubu’s government initially appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, with the Senate promptly screening and confirming the nominees.
However, the dismissal of five ministers and the appointment of new candidates marks the administration’s first significant reshuffling since coming into power.
With these changes, the Tinubu administration aims to streamline government functions and improve service delivery in key areas, while focusing on regional development and the efficient management of Nigeria’s vast resources.
Okechukwu Nwokoye | Sub Editor
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