No surprises in Tinubu’s highly anticipated cabinet shuffle
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, widow of former Biafra leader Emeka Ojukwu, has been appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in President Bola Tinubu’s long-awaited cabinet shuffle announced on Wednesday.
In this reshuffle, ten serving ministers swapped positions, while five were dismissed during a Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. However, the changes in the 48-member cabinet, one of the largest in Nigeria’s history, yielded few surprises, particularly as many Nigerians call for a reduction in government expenditures.
Key ministries such as Finance, Defence, and Foreign Affairs remained unchanged, despite expectations for reforms aimed at addressing economic challenges and rising living costs in the oil-rich nation. The removal of the oil subsidy has sparked protests, but officials maintain that austerity measures will eventually yield positive outcomes, a stance that critics find unconvincing.
With the country’s refineries in disrepair, President Tinubu retains the position of Petroleum Minister amid ongoing controversies in the oil sector, even as Dangote’s private refinery begins supplying refined products to Nigeria.
The cabinet shakeup also includes new ministers such as Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi for Labour and Employment, and Jumoke Oduwole for Industry, Trade, and Investment. The appointments will require Senate approval.
The dismissed ministers include Barr Uju-Ken Ohamenye (Women Affairs) and Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education). Reassigned ministers include Dr. Yusuf Tanko, now Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, and Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alaisa, who has moved to Minister of State for Works.
Notably, the Tinubu administration has yet to appoint new ambassadors after recalling envoys from foreign missions over a year ago.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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