SINCE assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu has initiated substantial cabinet reshuffles and made significant appointments aimed at enhancing efficiency amidst economic challenges and public scrutiny. The reshuffling notably involved the dismissal of five ministers and the appointment of seven new ones. The following is an overview of the principal changes
Ministers removed
- Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, was succeeded by Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim
- Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development, was succeeded by Ayodele Olawande.
- Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, was succeeded by Yusuf Abdullahi Ata.
- Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, was replaced by Morufu Olatunji Alausa.
- Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism, was removed with the ministry merged into that of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, now led by Hannatu Musawa.
New ministerial appointments
- Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
- Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment.
- Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
- Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development.
- Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development
- Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.
- Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State, Education.
Reassignments
Several ministers were redeployed to different portfolios, including: Doris Uzoka-Anite, from Industry, Trade and Investment to Ministry of State for Finance.
John Owan Enoh was redeployed from Sports to the ministry of State, Trade and Investment.
Yusuf Tanko Sununu, from Ministry of State, Education to that of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction (although later reports indicate Nentawe Yilwatda assumed this role).
Morufu Olatunji Alausa, was moved from Ministry of State, Health to that of Education.
Bello Muhammad Goronyo, was redeployed from Ministry of State, Water Resources to that of State, Works, while Abubakar Momoh, was moved from Ministry of Niger Delta Development to that of Regional Development (renamed from Niger Delta Development)
Uba Maigari Ahmadu, was moved from Ministry of State, Steel Development to become Minister of State, Regional Development.
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, was redeployed from Ministry of State, Police Affairs to that of Women Affairs.
Ayodele Olawande, was moved from Ministry of State for Youth Development to Ministry for Youth Development.
Salako Iziaq Adekunle Adeboye, was redeployed from Ministry of State, Environment to that of State, Social Health.
The Ministry of Sports was dissolved, with its functions merged into the expanded Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy.
Appointments of CEOs and board chairpersons
In addition to ministerial changes, President Tinubu has undertaken extensive appointments and reshufflement of chief executive officers, board chairpersons and directors-general across numerous federal agencies and parastatals, with the objective of strengthening governance and operational efficiency.
January 2025: Appointment of board chairpersons for 42 federal organisations, including a new managing director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a director-general for the National Board for Technology Incubation. The President emphasised that board chairpersons serve in non-executive capacities and should refrain from interfering with management.
April 2025: The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) board was significantly reconstituted, with the former chairman and Group CEO removed. Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari was appointed Group CEO, while Ahmadu Musa Kida assumed the role of non-executive chairman. The new board comprises representatives from Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, aiming to enhance operational efficiency, investor confidence, and sectoral growth.
October 2023: Appointment of 14 new CEOs for agencies under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, including leadership for the Industrial Training Fund, Corporate Affairs Commission, and Standards Organisation of Nigeria. These appointments align with the administration’s economic revival agenda focused on trade and industrial development.
October 2023: Appointment of eight new CEOs within the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, including Lanre Issa-Onilu as Director-General/CEO of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
October 2023: Appointment of two new CEOs in the health sector: Muyi Aina as Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Kelechi Ohiri as Director-General/CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority, both recognised for their international public health expertise.
January 2024: President Tinubu removed Babatunde Irukera as CEO of the FCCPC. Adamu Abdullahi served as acting CEO until June 2024, when Tunji Bello, a former Lagos State Commissioner and experienced public servant, was appointed and confirmed by the Senate as the new Executive Vice Chairman/CEO. Bello officially assumed office in July 2024, charged with advancing the commission’s mandate to regulate competition and protect consumer rights nationwide.
Blessing Otoibhi is a Multimedia Journalist and Anchor host for the News in 60 seconds at The International Center For Investigative Reporting. You can shoot her a mail via Botoibhi@icirnigeria.org or connect on Twitter @B_otoibhi