October 24 – In a major cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu announced the reassignment of 10 ministers, the removal of five, and the nomination of seven new ministers pending Senate confirmation. The reshuffle also saw the merging and renaming of key ministries, including the scrapping of the Ministry of Sports Development and the merging of the Ministry of Tourism with Arts and Culture into the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
This significant development, following the 19th meeting of the Federal Executive Council in Abuja, is part of what the Presidency described as “far-reaching actions” aimed at boosting government efficiency. The reshuffle comes as Tinubu’s administration seeks to reinvigorate its efforts to meet the needs of Nigerians amid mounting challenges.
Among the ministers relieved of their duties are Uju-Kennedy Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), and Tahir Mamman (Education). The President thanked them for their service, while reassigned ministers were directed to transition to their new roles by October 30, 2024.
### **New Ministerial Assignments**
In addition to the reassignments, Tinubu nominated seven new ministers, including Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. These appointments are subject to Senate approval.
The newly created Ministry of Regional Development, formerly the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, will now oversee all regional development commissions, including those for the Niger Delta, North East, South East, and North West regions. Abubakar Momoh, who previously headed the Niger Delta ministry, has been appointed to lead the new ministry.
The opposition, civil society organizations, and members of the private sector offered mixed reactions to the reshuffle. Opposition leaders criticized the move as insufficient, calling for more significant changes. Timothy Osadolor, Deputy National Youth Leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), described the reshuffle as a “distraction” from the administration’s inability to address pressing economic issues.
Shehu Gabam, National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, urged the President to focus on sectors needing urgent reform, while Labour Party spokesperson Obiora Ifoh said, “Merging ministries and reshuffling ministers are not the solutions Nigerians need right now.”
The private sector, however, offered more optimistic feedback. Dr. Femi Egbesola, National President of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, praised the move as a potential catalyst for better productivity. “If the reshuffle leads to improved service delivery and efficiency, then it’s a positive step,” he said.
However, some private sector leaders, like Professor Akpan Ekpo, stressed the need for a stronger economic management team. He called on the President to include more experts in key roles to guide Nigeria through its current economic difficulties.
On social media, many Nigerians expressed frustration that certain ministers, particularly those in charge of defence, power, and petroleum, were not removed. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, were particularly criticized for their performance, with many calling for their removal in future cabinet changes.
As President Tinubu continues to restructure his administration, public scrutiny remains high, with many citizens and opposition figures demanding further reforms to tackle Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
