Forty- five ministers-designate have been sworn at an impressive ceremony in Aso Rock.
The event was presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The event, held at the State House Banquet, was attended by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House Representatives, Tajudeen Abass.
Also at the ceremony was Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Kwara Governor, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman.
The ministers were sworn-in nine batches, with the first batch comprising of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State Gas in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, and Minister of Education, Tahir Maman.
The second batch comprised of Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of State (Oil), Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari.
The third batch included Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh.
The fourth batch comprised of Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, Minister of Transportation, Alkali Sa’id, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Anite, and Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru.
The fifth included Minister of State Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo, Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mariya Mahmud, Minister of Housing and Urban development, Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
While the sixth batch was made up of Minister of State Education, Yusuf Sunumu, Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, and Minister of State Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman- Ibrahim.
The seventh batch included Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, Minister of State Environment, Ishak Salako, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.
The eighth batch comprised Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Power, Adedayo Adelabu, Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesome Wike.
The ninth batch included Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, Minister of State for Steel Development, Maigari Ahmadu, Minister of Police affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, and Minster of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Zephaniah Jisalo.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale read a brief citation of each minister after which each batch was asked to step out to sign the register after the oath-taking ritual and asked to further take a step forward to pump hands with President Tinubu for photo opportunities.
Meanwhile, after the swearing in of ministers, they were expected to proceed to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, for further briefings.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr George Akume, har directed Permanent Secretaries to meet their new ministers at his office after the swearing-in ceremony
The directive was contained in a statement signed by Willie Bassey, Director, Information, OSGF on Sunday.
He said, “Permanent Secretaries in various MDAs are advised to meet their respective Ministers after the swearing- in ceremony at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the for further interaction with them.”
All the minister had completed their documentation beforw the swearing in.
His statement entitled: SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE DOCUMENTATION PROCESS, had read in part: “The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has successfully completed the documentation process for all Ministers-Designate this evening.
“It would be recalled that the documentation which commenced yesterday at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the, Shehu Shagari Complex, Abuja,witnessed the large turn- out of most Ministers-Designate who completed the process yesterday.
Bassey added, “Today, the remaining Ministers-Designate concluded the exercise.
“In all, the forty-five Ministers-Designate successfully completed the documentation process and also picked up three invitation cards for their guests.
“Adequate transportation arrangements have been concluded to convey Ministers-Designate and their three invited guests to the venue of the ceremony at the State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa, Abuja.”
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