By Uzair Adam
President Bola Tinubu has reshuffled his cabinet, removing six ministers and submitting the names of seven new nominees to the National Assembly for confirmation.
The new appointments aim to fill the positions left by the outgoing ministers.
In a major restructuring, Tinubu also appointed Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission, which will now manage all sports-related activities following the dissolution of the Ministry of Sports Development.
Two former ministers under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration have returned to key positions.
The former Minister of Police Affairs was named Minister of Labour and Employment, while Sunday Dare, ex-Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has been appointed Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation.
The six ministers removed from the cabinet include Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education), Uju Kennedy Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Mohammad Gwarzo (State for Housing), Jamila Ibrahim (Youth Development), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), and Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
The President has submitted the following names for confirmation:
Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction), Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi (Labour and Employment), Dr. Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment), Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Livestock Development), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (State for Housing and Urban Development), and Suwaiba Said Ahmad (State for Education).
Additionally, ten ministers have been reassigned to new portfolios, part of the President’s strategy to optimize cabinet performance.
Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, for example, has been moved from State Education to State Humanitarian Affairs, while Abubakar Momoh has transitioned from Niger Delta Development to Regional Development.
The Ministry of Niger Delta Development has been renamed the Ministry of Regional Development to supervise the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other regional commissions.
President Tinubu urged his appointees to dedicate themselves to the nation’s growth and contribute to achieving the administration’s priorities.