deployment indicates merger of ministries
In a massive restructuring of federal ministries and in line with the deployment of the permanent secretaries, there are indications that the country will have only 25 ministries.
President Muhammadu Buhari announced the retirement of 17 permanent secretaries during a meeting in his office at the Presidential Villa yesterday.
The affected permanent secretaries were led to the meeting by the acting Head of Service. Unconfirmed reports indicated that 18 were relieved of their duties.
However, in a swift move President Buhari approved the appointment of 18 new permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service effective yesterday.
The President also deployed 36 permanent secretaries to various ministries, a Presidency statement said late Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the deployment of the permanent secretaries last night headlines the number of ministries in his government, and confirms earlier suspicions of a possible merger of federal ministries, departments and agencies.
The new permanent secretaries are: Ayotunde Adesugba; Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Taiwo Abidogun; Bukar Hassan; Wakama Belema Asifieka; Jalal Ahmad Arabi; Sabiu Zakari; Obiageli Phyllis Nwokedi; Aminu Nabegu; Bamgbose Olukunle Oladele; Alo Williams Nwankwo; Shehu Ahmed; Ogbonnaya Innocent Kalu; Nuratu Jimoh Batagarawa; Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa; Bassey Apkanyung; Louis Edozien, and Ugo Roy.
The deployed permanent secretaries are: Shehu Ahmad, ministry of agric and rural development; Sunday Echono, ministry of communications; Sabiu Zakari, minisrty of transportation; Ayotunde Adesugba, ministry of information and culture; Danjuma Sheni, minisrty of defence; Shade Yemi-Esan, ministry of education, and Fatima Mede, budget and national planning.
Others are Mahmoud Isa Dutse, ministry of finance; Bulus Lolo, ministry of foreign affairs; Amina Shamaki, ministry of health; Aliyu Bisalla, ministry of industry, trade and investment; Bassey Akpanyung, ministry of internal affairs; Taiwo Abidogun, ministry of justice; Habiba Lawal, ministry of science and technology; Clement Illoh, ministry of labour and productivity; Jamila Shu’ara, ministry of petroleum resources, and Binta Bello, ministry of women affairs.
Others are: Babatope Ajakaiye, Federal Capital Territory; Rabi Jimeta, ministry of water resources; Bukar Hassan, ministry of environment; Wakama B. Asifieka, ministry of Niger Delta Affairs; Istifanus Fuktur, ministry of solid minerals; Christian Ohaa, ministry of youth and sports; A.G. Magaji, ministry of works and housing; Louis Edozien, ministry of power; Jalal Arabi, State House; Mohammed Bukar, General Services Office, OSGF; Abbas Mohammed, Ecological Fund Office, OSGF; Ugo Roy, Council Secretariat; Aminu Nabegu, Special Services Office, OSGF; Bamgbose Akindele, Political Affairs Office, OSGF; Alo Williams Nwankwo, Economic Affairs Office, OSGF; Obiageli Nwokedi, Special Duties Office, OSGF; Innocent Ogbonnaya, Career Management Office, OHCSF; S.K.Y. Adelakun, Common Services Office, OHCSF, and N. Batagarawa, Service Policy and Strategies Office, OHCSF.
The new appointments and deployments are with effect from yesterday, Femi Adesina, special adviser to the President (media and publicity), said.
