President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the expansion of ministries, inaugurates 43 ministers and assigned them with portfolios.
They are the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Social Development; Police Affairs, and Ministry of Special Duties and International Affairs.
The President, who announced this while assigning portfolios to the newly sworn in Ministers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, gave the names of the remaining two ministries to include that of Aviation and Power.
“I am pleased to inform you that the Federal Ministries have been further expanded to ensure effective service delivery,” the president said.
The new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development will be headed by Hajiya Sadiya Umar (Zamfara) while that of the Ministry of Special Duties and International Affairs will be headed by Sen. George Akume from Benue.
Alhaji Muhammadu Dingyadi from Sokoto State is the Minister of the new Ministry of Police Affairs. Sen. Hadi Sirika is now full-fledged Minister of Aviation while Sale Mamman is the Minister of Power.
The Ministry of Power was separated from the former Ministry of Works, Power and Housing which was headed by Babatunde Fashola, who is now the Minister of Works and Housing.
President Buhari will retain the Ministry of Petroleum while Timipre Sylva is the Minister of State Petroleum Resources.
Some other members of the old team who returned either had their jobs trimmed or got a raise in their responsibilities.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed returns to the Ministry of Information and Culture as Dr Ogbonnaya Onu returns to the Ministry of Science and Technology but unlike Mohammed, Onu is to be assisted by a Minister of State, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi.
Others who retained their positions are Alhaji Muhammed Bello (Federal Capital Territory) Adamu Adamu (Education), Dr Chris Ngige Labour and Employment), Geoffrey Onyeama (Foreign Affairs).
Alhaji Hadi Sirika , takes full charge as Minister of Aviation, while Mr Chibuike Amaechi is in-charge of Minister of Aviation in the Ministry of Transportation without the Aviation segment.
Malam Suleiman Adamu returns to the Ministry of Water Resources, while Zainab Ahmed is back to the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
Abubakar Malami retains his post as Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation and Mr Babatunde Fashola keeps the Ministry of Works and Housing without the Power segment.
Dr Ikechukwu Ogah, a fresh hand, is Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development; Godswill Akpabio (Minister of Niger Delta Affairs) and Mr Festus Keyamo is Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs.
Mr Sabo Nanono is the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources; retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Salihi Magash (Minister of Defence) and Ramatu Tijjani (Minister of State, FCT.)
Mr Muhammed Madmud is Minister of Environment; Sharon Ikeazor (Minister of State, Environment) and Amb. Maryam Katagun is the Minister of State, Trade and Industry.
Others are Adeleke Mamora (State, Health); Mohammed H. Abdullahi (State, Science & Tech.); Zubair Dada (State, Foreign Affairs); Olamilekan Adegbite (Mines & Steel Development) and Tayo Alasoadura (Ministry of State, Labour and Productivity)
Former governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, is now Minister of Interior; Mr Sunday Dare (Youth and Sports Development) while Paulen Talen is the Minister of Women Affairs.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja, cautioned new cabinet Ministers against unnecessary altercation while discharging their responsibilities.
Buhari, who gave the warning at the inauguration of ministers at the Presidential Villa, stated that they must work in harmony with their fellow ministers.
He also charged the ministers not to allow political or ethnic differences to affect their performance.
“We can only make meaningful progress in our restoration efforts if we all commit ourselves to addressing the challenges confronting our nation in the best interest of our people and posterity.
“We must not allow issues such as political affiliation, sectional interest, and primordial loyalties to blind us against our patriotic obligation to drive our nation’s growth, development, and prosperity in an atmosphere of enduring peace, security and stability,” he said.
The president explained that the ministers, as heads of their respective ministries, and for effective implementation of their mandates, are required to work closely with the Permanent Secretaries and heads of Agencies under their purview.
He said this had become necessary considering the fact that, the task of moving the country to the Next Level required dedicated, focused, and collective efforts.
“I must emphasise the importance of communication and harmony within our government.
“You must work in harmony with your fellow Ministers. Communication, vertical and horizontal, can only be ignored at a price,’’ he said.
According to the president, his administration’s primary business in the next four years is to work towards delivering dividends of democracy to all citizens irrespective of their socio-political affiliations.
He said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government was determined to record more successes that would meet the expectations of citizens.
He said: “Our primary business over the next four years is to work together towards delivering the results that the people of Nigeria expect from us.
“We have a great opportunity as an administration to build on the progress already made, in order to build and fundamentally shift Nigeria’s trajectory to the path of steady growth and development.
“Our economic policy, which is the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, is still robust and on course with the necessary policies and initiatives to sustain the country’s exit from recession, engender growth and promote the value chain of infrastructure development.
“We believe that we can sustain our legacies and developmental strides if they are based on sustainable policies and good governance.’’
The President informed the Ministers that their performance and that of their various ministries would be tracked, to guarantee efficiency.
“As you are aware, the Federal Executive Council meeting is held on a weekly basis.
“As part of efforts towards ensuring effective delivery on our priorities, I have directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to track progress against what we have committed to do to achieve these objectives.
“He is therefore expected to report the process of implementation and outcome to the Federal Executive Council,” he added.
In short remarks at the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, who was the first to take his oath of office, urged the ministers to familiarise themselves with their respective permanent secretaries.
Mustapha said this had become imperative in view of the fact that the executive arm had pledged to submit 2020 appropriation bill to the National Assembly by September.
“You are expected to familiarise yourselves with the permanent secretaries of various ministries and within this period, set out to work particularly on the budget.
“And taking cognisance of the fact that we have assured the National Assembly that we are sending the budget immediately they return from recess,’’ he said.
Buhari had earlier on Wednesday, sworn in 43 ministers, in nine batches of five each.
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed ministers to be relentless in delivering services that are vital to the objectives of the present administration.
The president said this on Wednesday in Abuja during the swearing-in ceremony of ministers at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to him, growth and development is only possible if the ministers are relentless about delivering on specific actions and targets and implementation of government programmes.
Buhari expressed the optimism that the minsters, who had been with him for more than two days, should be ready to work tirelessly to ensure a future where every Nigeria could optimise its potential.
“I believe you are ready to get to work; indeed the work has already started,’’ he said.
The president said that the retreat focused on the road map towards the delivering of government policies, programmes and projects for 2019 to 2023.
He also urged the ministers to intensify efforts to reduce internal security threats and eliminate corruption at all levels.
This, he said, would ensure that citizens were perceived as corruption free in any environment they found themselves and could live and continue their businesses without fear and intimidation.
He said that while recognising the existing challenges and the urgent need to surmount them, Nigerians must not fail to note the progress that the administration had made since inception.
He said that their priority in the next four years was to act together towards delivering the results that the people of Nigeria expected from the ministers.
“We have agreed that we must, as an administration, build on the progress that has already been made in order to fundamentally shift Nigerians trajectory on the part of stable growth and development,’’ he said
