Buhari Inaugurates Cabinet, creates 3 new Ministries

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated his new cabinet for his second term in office as he administered the oath of office on the reappointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, and the 43 Ministers who are now part of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

In his remarks, the President charged the new appointees to work closely and harmoniously with fellow cabinet members as well as with the Permanent Secretaries in their respective Ministries.

He reminded them of his earlier charge to channel cabinet memos through the SGF and requests for meetings and presidential matters through his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

He warned that failure to follow appropriate vertical and horizontal channels of communication in the work of the cabinet among them would be sanctioned with requisite repercussions.

In assigning portfolios for the Ministers, Buhari announced three new Ministries, namely Ministry of Police Affairs, which he had scrapped in 2015; Ministry of Special Duties and International Affairs; as well as Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.

Mustpaha was first to be sworn in, followed by the Ministers in groups of fives and three. The seven female and 36 male Ministers were screened and cleared by the Senate last month.

The swearing in ceremony took place at the Aso Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan; Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Idris Wase; All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole; and senior presidency officials in attendance.

It was also witnessed by family and friends of the new ministers; APC national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State; the Chief of Defence Staff and military service chiefs, as well as the Inspector-General of Police.

Also present was the embattled Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, who is being investigated over an alleged N3billion fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

She had been absent from public functions in the past few days, particularly the induction retreat organised for the incoming ministers in Abuja, at which she was listed as one of the resource persons.

A one-minute silence and special prayer were observed in honour of late Mr. Tijani Yusuf, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on General Duties, who died two weeks ago; before the new Ministers took a group photograph with the President.

The list of ministers and their portfolios are listed below:

1 Uchechukwu Samson Ogah (Abia) – Minister of State Mines And Steel.

2. Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa) – Minister of FCT.
3. God’swill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) – Minister of Niger delta.
4. Dr Chris Ngige (Anambra ) – Minister of Labour and Employment.
5. Sharon Ikeazu (Anambra) – Minister of State Environment.
6. Adamu Adamu – (Bauchi) – Minister of Education.
7. Amb Maryam Katagum – (Bauchi) – Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment.
8. Timipre Silva (Bayelsa) – Minister of State for Petroleum.
9. Sen. George Akume (Benue) – Minister for Special Duties
10. Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno) – Minister of State for Agriculture.
11. Godwin Jedi-Agba (Cross River) – Minister of State for Power.
12. Festus Keyamo (Delta) – Minister of State for Niger Delta.
13. Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi) – Minister of Science and Technology
14. Dr. Osagie Ehanire (Edo) – Minister of Health
15. Clement Ikanade Agba (Edo) – Minister of State for Budget and National Planning.
16. Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti) – Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment.
17. Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu) Minister for Foreign Affairs.
18. Dr. Ali Isa Pantami (Gombe) – Minister for Communication.
19. Emeka Nwajuba (Imo) – Minister of State for Education.
20. Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa) Minister for Water Resources
21. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed (Kaduna) – Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning.
22. Dr. Mohammad Mahmoud (Kaduna) – Minister for Environment
23. Mohammed Sabo Nanono (Kano) – Minister for Agriculture
24. Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd) – (Kano) – Minister of Defence
25. Hadi Sirika (Katsina) – Minister for Aviation
26. Abubakar Malami (Kebbi), Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
27. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu (Kogi) – Minister of State for FCT.
28. Lai Mohammed (Kwara) Minister of Information and Culture.
29. Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara) Minister of State for Transportation.
30. Babatunde Raji Fashola (Lagos) – Minister for Works and Housing
31. Adeleke Mamora (Lagos) – Minister of State for Health
32. Mohammed A. Abdullahi (Nasarawa) – Minister of State for Science & Tech.
33. Amb. Zubairu Dada (Niger) – Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
34. Olamilekan Adegbite (Ogun) – Minister For Mines & Steel Development.
35. Sen. Omotayo Alasuadura (Ondo) – Minister of State for Labour.
36. Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) – Minister for Interior.
37. Sunday Dare (Oyo) – Minister Youth and Sports.
38. Dame Pauline Tallen (Plateau) – Women Affairs.
39. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) – Minister for Transportation.
40. Mohammed Maigari Dangyadi (Sokoto) – Minister for Police Affairs.
41. Engr. Sale Mamman (Taraba) – Minister for Power.
42. Abubakar D. Aliyu (Yobe) Minister of State for Works and Housing.
43. Sadiya Umar Faruk (Zamfara) – Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.