Following a two-day (August 19-20, 2019) retreat organized for ministerial appointees of President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal Executive Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria’s new cabinet was Wednesday, August 21, inaugurated, with 43 ministers sworn in, having been confirmed earlier by the Senate.
The induction retreat which was packaged to acquaint the appointees with the roadmap for the delivery of government policies, among others, was presided over by His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, widespread criticisms have continued to trail the appointment and screening process of the sworn-in ministers, ministers of state and other appointees.
Chief among the issues that sparked a recent controversy was the appointment of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola as Minister of Internal Affairs. Aregbesola, ex-governor of Osun State, has soon after inauguration and assignment of portfolio lamented his stark inexperience in matters of national security which is a critical component of his ministry.
Currently, there is no gainsaying that the issue of security has formed a major cause for concern among the comity of nations across the world, and Nigeria is not left out in this grave predicament, owing to the activities of various dangerously armed and criminal groups in the country.
Though the Buhari Administration seems to score a plus here in the appointment of core South-South sons: Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Barr. Festus Keyamo, and Sen. Ita Enang as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, and SSA on Niger Delta Affairs respectively, keen watchers of the regime are, however, pessimistic over what they describe as the presence of the bulk of old appointees in the new cabinet.
They express fear that the crop of former ministers and other appointees who have found themselves back in the fresh cabinet is likely to engender a recurrence of socio-economic failure palpably felt by the Nigerian populace in the first tenure of the Buhari Administration.
Meanwhile, the seven women on the ministerial list include Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), Sharon Ikeazor (Anambra), Sadiya Farouq (Zamfara), Ambassador Maryam Katagum (Bauchi), Gbemi Saraki (Kwara), Ramatu Tijani (Kogi) and Pauline Tallen (Plateau).
The president has retained himself as Petroleum Minister, while former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva is to serve as Minister of State.
Also appointed is Godswill Akpabio as Niger Delta Minister, Adamu Adamu as Education Minister; Isa Pantami, Communication; and Rotimi Ameachi, Transportation.
The President has also created new ministries such as Ministry of Police Affairs and ministries for humanitarian services.
The full list of ministers and their ministries is below