Tinubu Warns New Ministers: You Are Not Appointed for Ethnic, Colony or Regional Interests But to Serve Nigeria

* Administers oath of office on 45 cabinet members

* Charges them to serve with dignity, integrity and competence

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu has charged the 45 newly inaugurated ministers of the Federal Republic to prioritize the interests and welfare of the entire nation and its diverse population above any regional or state-specific considerations.

Speaking Monday 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.

He specifically told the new ministers: “You are not a minister of a particular state, colony, region or ethnic nationality. You are a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” setting the tone for his directive to the new appointees. 

According to him, “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.”

President Tinubu also reminded the new ministers that they cannot disappoint Nigerians, who expect them to serve with integrity, dignity and competence to actualize the Renewed Hope manifesto of the administration—failing which he will not hesitate to take necessary remedial measures.

He said: “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,” as he congratulated 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, President Tinubu 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,” he said.

The president had earlier administered oath of office in batches on the 45 new ministers who will constitute the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The ceremony, which took place at the Conference Centre of the State House, Abuja, had in attendance Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abass; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Kwara State Governor, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman.

The ministers were sworn in in batches of five. The first batch comprised 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 included the 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 of ministers were 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 of ministers sworn in were 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 batch of ministers sworn in were 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.

The sixth batch of ministers sworn in were 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 of ministers sworn in were 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 of ministers sworn in were 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 and final batch of ministers sworn in were 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 Defence, Bello Matawalle and Minster of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, served as the compere of the event.