President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, which saw Ogun State reportedly securing four ministerial positions,the highest from any state has stirred reactions nationwide.
During a major cabinet adjustment at the 19th Federal Executive Council meeting held at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu re-assigned 10 ministers to new portfolios, dismissed five, and nominated seven new ministers pending Senate confirmation.
Also, the President renamed the Ministry of Nigeria Delta Development as the Ministry of Regional Development, dissolved the Ministry of Sports Development, and merged the Ministries of Tourism and Arts and Culture to form the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
The seven new appointees awaiting Senate confirmation are Dr. Jumoke Oduwole (Ogun State) for Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment; Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda (Plateau) for Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Dingyadi (Sokoto) for Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (Imo) for Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Idi Maiha (Kaduna) for Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Ata (Kano) for Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad (Kano) for Minister of State for Education.
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole joins other Ogun ministers, including Wale Edun (Minister of Finance), Dr. Adekunle Salako (now Minister of State for Health, previously Minister of State for Environment), and Bosun Tijani (Minister of Communications and Digital Economy).
Read also:
- Meet The New Ministers Appointed By Tinubu
- Cabinet Reshuffle: Lobby Begins As Tinubu Demands Score Cards Of 42 Ministers
- President Tinubu To Reshuffle Cabinet- Presidenc
- Analyst Write To Tinubu Over Under performing Ministers–
- Sam Amadi To Tinubu: Stop Recycling Outdated Politicians
Senate, SANs Support FG
Some criticized the Ogun ministerial appointments, questioning their adherence to the Federal Character principle, while Senate Committee on Federal Character Chair, Allwell Onyesoh (PDP, Rivers East), affirmed that although Federal Character is constitutional, it is not the only criterion for selecting ministers.
Federal Character is important,” he noted, “but the Constitution states only one person per state. Once that’s met, I’m not sure there should be an issue.”
Senator Onyesoh added, “Federal Character is not the sole requirement; we need competent individuals. The President is empowered to bring capable people on board to ensure efficiency.”
Amid critiques, Tinubu announced a reduction of official convoys. As of Thursday, ministers, ministers of state, and federal agency heads are limited to three vehicles. “No additional vehicles will be assigned,” Tinubu affirmed in a statement on cost-cutting measures, released by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga. Earlier, in January 2024, Tinubu reduced his entourage on foreign trips from 50 to 20, and for local trips, from 25. He similarly restricted the Vice President’s entourage to five for foreign trips and 15 for local trips.
Tinubu also limited security personnel for all ministers, ministers of state, and agency heads to a five-member team, consisting of four police officers and one Department of State Services officer.
He further instructed the National Security Adviser to coordinate with military and security agencies to reduce personnel and vehicle deployment.
The Presidency emphasized that officials must comply immediately, underscoring the urgency of these changes.
Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), former Nigerian Bar Association President, affirmed that the President has the prerogative to appoint multiple ministers from one state, provided each state has at least one.
The only restriction,” Agbakoba stated, “is that each state must be represented. There’s no law against appointing more than one minister from a state.”
Similarly, Senior Advocate Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa acknowledged the constitution’s mandate for each state’s representation but argued that the disparity in ministerial appointments across states did not support inclusivity.
He remarked, “Having one state with four ministers and another with only one doesn’t reflect equity. The current government should avoid the mistakes of the past and encourage national unity.”
Niyi Akintola (SAN) emphasized Section 14 of the Constitution, explaining that each state must have one minister. “The President has adhered to this requirement,” he said. “I am from Oyo State with only one minister, and there’s no complaint. The Constitution doesn’t bar multiple appointments from one state once every state is represented.”
Wolemi Esan (SAN) noted that while Section 147(1) requires one minister per state, there is no upper limit on appointments per state. Section 14(3), however, stresses that federal appointments should reflect the Federal Character.
Conversely, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) argued that appointing four ministers from Ogun, a relatively small state, contradicts sections of the Constitution, including Section 141, Section 153, and Section 71 in Part One of the Third Schedule.