President deviates from “lean government” promise as cabinet increases by 22.22%

After 4 months of wait, President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated 44 ministers and assigned them to their respective cabinet positions, coming as a surprise after the president had promised to run a “lean government”.

The membership of his cabinet increased by 22.22 percent from 36 members in his first term in office, as new ministries such as Ministry of Police Affairs, and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, amongst others were created and as other multi-functional ministries such as Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and Ministry of Transportation and Aviation were split in order to enhance effectiveness of the current administration.

Against consensus, the President retained his ministerial position, doubling as Minister of Petroleum Resources. Same with Lai Mohammed, who is the minister of information and culture.
Former governor of Anambra state, Chris Ngige also retains his ministerial position. He is the minister of Labour and Employment. Meanwhile, ex-governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola who was the minister of power, works and housing was stripped off ‘Power’ from his portfolio and handed it over to Sale Mamman. Recall that Nigeria Labour Congress, NCL, had asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to give Ngige the minister of Labour and Employment, noting that he has no knowledge of the position.

New entrants, Festus Keyamo, Sunday Dare, Gbemisola Saraki Minister of State for Niger Delta, Minister of Youth and Sport and Minister of Transportation respectively.

The full list is below:

1. Ikechukwu Ogah (Abia State) -Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development

2. Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa State) -Minister of the Federal Capital Territory

3. Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom State)- Minister of Niger Delta

4. Chris Ngige (Anambra State) – Minister of Labour and Employment

5. Sharon Ikeazor (Anambra State)-Minister of State Environment

6. Adamu Adamu (Bauchi State) -Minister of Education

7. Ambassador Maryam Katagun (Bauchi State) -Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment

8. Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa State) Minister of State, Petroleum under the President

9. George Akume (Benue State) -Minister of Special Duties

10. Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno State) -Minister of State, Agric and Rural Development

11. Goddy Jedy Agba (Cross River State) -Minister of State, Power

12. Festus Keyamo (Delta State) -Minister of State, Niger Delta

13. Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi State) -Minister of Science and Technology

14. Osagie Ehanire (Edo State) -Minister of Health

15. Clement Ike (Edo State) -Minister of Budget and National Planning

16. Richard Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti State) -Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

17. Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu State) -Minister of Foreign Affairs

18. Ali Isa Pantami (Gombe State) -Minister of Communications

19. Emeka Nwajiuba (Imo State) -Minister of State, Education

20. Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa State) -Minister of Water Resources

21. Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna State) -Minister of Finance

22. Muhammad Mahmood (Kaduna State) -Minister of Environment

23. Sabo Nanono (Kano State) -Minister of Agriculture and Development

24. Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Kano State) -Minister of Defence

25. Hadi Sirika (Katsina State) -Minister of Aviation

26. Abubakar Malami (Kebbi State) -Minister of Justice

27. Ramatu Tijjani (Kogi State) -Minister of State, FCT

28. Lai Mohammed (Kwara State) – Minister of Information and Culture

29. Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara State) -Minister of State, Transportation

30. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos State) -Minister of Works and Housing

31. Adeleke Mamora (Lagos State) -Minister of State, Health

32. Mohammed H. Abdullahi (Nasarawa State) -Minister of State, Science and Technology

33. Zubair Dada (Niger State) -Minister of State, Foreign Affairs

34. Olamilekan Adegbite (Ogun State) -Minister of Mines and Steel development

35. Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo State) -Minister of State, Labour

36. Rauf Aregbesola (Osun State) -Minister of Interior

37. Sunday Dare (Oyo State) -Minister of Youths and Sports

38. Paulen Talen (Plateau State) -Minister of Women Affairs

39. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State) -Minister of Transportation

40. Maigarai Dingyadi (Sokoto State) Minister of Police Affairs

41. Sale Mamman (Taraba State) -Minister of Power

42. Abubakar D. Aliyu (Yobe State) -Minister of State for Works and Housing

43. Sadiya Umar Faruk (Zamfara State) -Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development

44. Muhammadu Buhari (Katsina State) –Minister of Petroleum Resources