President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle has been making headlines, and the Presidency has clarified that the departing ministers were not sacked, but rather discharged.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the term “sacked” doesn’t accurately describe their departure.
“Ministers were not sacked; they were discharged,” Onanuga stated in an interview with TVC.
The cabinet reshuffle, announced on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, affected five ministers, including Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Tahir Mamman (Education), Abdullahi Gwarzo (Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development), and Jamila Ibrahim (Youth Development).
Seven new ministers were appointed to replace them, while ten others were reassigned to new portfolios.
The newly appointed ministers include:
Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
Maigari Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment
Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry
Idi Maiha as Minister for the newly created Livestock Development Ministry
Yusuf Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development
Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State for Education
President Tinubu appreciated the outgoing ministers for their service and wished them well in their future endeavors. He also charged the newly appointed ministers and their reassigned colleagues to see their appointments as a call to serve Nigeria and Nigerians.