Tinubu to Cabinet: You Are Appointed to Serve Nigeria, Not Ethnic, Regional Interests

•Administers oath of office on 45 cabinet members 

•Charges them to serve with dignity, integrity, competence

•Wike: PDP governors made 10 ministerial nominations 

•Berates opposition party’s  members calling for his suspension

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Chuks Okocha in Abuja

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

Tinubu spoke on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of the new members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the State House Conference Centre.

The president underscored the immense responsibility the ministers bore in shaping policies that will affect the lives of hundreds of millions of Nigerians.

Relatedly, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday, revealed that all the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors were given the opportunity to nominate 10 persons for ministerial positions before Tinubu made his final appointments. Wike, a PDP member, dismissed allegations that he took up the cabinet post in an All Progressives Congress (APC) government without the endorsement of his party. He condemned calls for his suspension from the party.

Tinubu 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.”

He stated, “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 (FEC) 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.”

Tinubu reminded the new ministers that they could not disappoint Nigerians, who expected them to serve with integrity, dignity, and competence to actualise the “Renewed Hope” agenda of his administration. He said he would not hesitate to take necessary remedial measures if any minister failed to perform.

He told the ministers, “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.”

The president congratulated the ministers and welcomed 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. He said they effectively represented the rich diversity of the country.

Expressing his wish for the success of the cabinet members in the discharge of their duties, Tinubu invoked the metaphor of a journey, in which he was the driver of a vehicle, with all Nigerians as passengers.

According to him, “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.”

The president earlier administered the oath of office, in batches, on the 45 new ministers.

The ceremony 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 (SGF), 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 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 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 sworn-in 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 included 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 was made up of Minister of State for 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 Defense, Bello Matawalle; and Minster of Special Duties and Intergovernmental, Affairs Zephaniah Jisalo.

Wike: PDP Governors Made 10 Ministerial Nominations

Wike yesterday, disclosed that the PDP governors were given the opportunity to nominate 10 ministerial candidates before Tinubu made his final appointments.

The new FCT minister also said his decision to accept to serve as Minister of FCT was for the national interest, while berating PDP members calling for his suspension. He claimed that the national leadership of PDP was aware of his ministerial nomination.

Speaking at his Area Eleven office of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Wike dismissed insinuations that he accepted the ministerial offer without the clearance of his party.

According to the former governor of Rivers State, “I laugh at those Reggae dancers in PDP who are talking about suspension.

“Ridiculous people. Ignore them and let’s focus on serious matters.

“There’s no PDP governor who didn’t make nominations for Mr President. All of them made 10 nominations.”

Wike stated further, “Before I accepted this position, I wrote to the PDP National Chairman, Zonal Chairman, State Chairman, My Governor, Minority leaders in the National Assembly, all of them replied to me in writing, saying, “Take the appointment. So ignore those bad belle losers shouting suspension.”

The former governor clarified that his appointment and nomination as a minister were not based on partisan considerations.

“If it’s about party, I won’t be here, but I’m here because this is about Nigeria,” he said.

On whether he would emulate the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as Minister of FCT, Wike said, “Those asking me whether I will be like El-Rufai are the same people who said El-Rufai is the best Minister of FCT. So why don’t you want me to be like him? You people don’t like performers? I’m going to be another El-Rufai.”

Wike also discussed his mission as FCT minister, saying, “I’m not here to bring down anybody’s building. I’m interested in that as long as your papers and other legal approvals are intact.

“Those saying I’m here for vendetta are jokers. I don’t use my official work for vendetta. I use polling units for vendetta, they all know this.”

Wike said, “I’m not someone who sits down in office to read reports and sign files. I’ll always be on the road inspecting projects. Although, files won’t last more than 24 hours on my table…I hate files.”