President Bola Tinubu on Monday charged the 45 newly inaugurated ministers of the Federal Republic to prioritise the interest and welfare of the entire nation and its diverse population above any regional or state-specific considerations.
Speaking at the inauguration of new members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the president underscored the immense responsibility the ministers now bear in shaping policies that will significantly influence the lives of hundreds of millions of Nigerians.
“You are not a minister of a particular state, colony, region, or ethnic nationality. You are a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” President Tinubu declared, setting the tone for his directive to the new ministers.
“This is all about the cohesion and work of a great team, and I believe we now have it. It is an honour to be chosen to serve as a minister in the Federal Executive Council, and such a high honour comes with tremendous responsibility. In this moment of abundant promise and peril in equal measure, all of you that have been sworn in have been called to distinguish yourselves. Nigerians are highly expectant of excellence in service delivery, accountability, and transparency,” he said.
The president also reminded the new ministers that they cannot disappoint Nigerians, who expect them to serve with integrity, dignity and competence to actualise the Renewed Hope manifesto of the administration—failing which he will not hesitate to take necessary remedial measures.
“As your country honours you today, you must each work to make yourselves worthy in the eyes of God and our entire nation’s people. Your highest obligation is to restore public faith in government so that our people can once again believe that government can be a positive force for transformation and a vehicle for collective progress of all citizens of this great country,” President Tinubu said, while congratulating each of the ministers and welcoming them to “the administration of Renewed Hope.”
He further affirmed that the newly appointed ministers were selected based on their track records of excellence in both the public and private sectors, noting their effective representation of the rich diversity present within Nigeria.
Expressing his wishes for the success of the cabinet members in the discharge of their duties, the president invoked a metaphor of a journey, in which he is the driver of a vehicle, along with all Nigerians as passengers.
“In this new assignment, we are in this boat together, even if it is a vehicle, I am the driver. The entire nation sits watchful, as you and I navigate this vehicle. We must hold each other responsible. We have to do the job to meet the expectations of all Nigerians. God be with you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Prior to Monday, the inauguration day, Tinubu had effected a minor reshuffle in his appointments, allocating to Adegboyega Oyetola, former Osun State governor, Ministry of Marine Resources & Blue Economy.
Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo was redeployed as the Minister of Interior, while Hon. Sa’idu Alkali was redeployed as the Minister of Transportation.
Both Ministers of State in the Oil & Gas sector are now domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the following designations: Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri as the Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources, while Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo is the Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources.
Recall that President Tinubu had last week released the list of portfolio for his ministerial appointees, assigning his ally, former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as FCT Minister, and ex-Plateau Governor Simon Lalong as Minister of Labour and Employment.
The comprehensive portfolios as released by the presidency had as follows: Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tuani; Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management, Ishak Salaco; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Marine Resources and Blue Economy, Bunmi Tunji, and Minister of Power, Adedayo Adelabu.
Other portfolios include Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Minister of Transportation, Adegboyega Oyetola; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Anite; Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji; Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy.
Others are Minister of Works, David Umahi; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Minister of Youth, Abubakar Momoh; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu; Minister of State, Gas Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo; Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri; Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
It also include Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of State for Education, Yusuf T. Sunumu, and Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed M. Dangiwa.
Others are Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, Abdullah T. Gwarzo; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Environment and Ecological Management (Kaduna); Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello M. Goronyo, and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyar.
Others are Minister of Education, Tahir Maman; Minister of Interior, Sa’Idu A. Alkali; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf M. Tuggar; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam; Minister of State, Steel Development, U. Maigari Ahmadu; Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu A. Audu; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon B. Lalong.
The portfolio also include Minister of State, Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo; Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, and Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.
