President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved two ministers of their appointments in a move he said is to reinvigorate his cabinet.
They are the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Sabo Nanono and his Power counterpart, Mr Saleh Mamman.
Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, announced this on Wednesday.
He said the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abubakar, had been redeployed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development while the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, is to take over as Minister of Power.
He said the exercise would continue to fill vacancies as prescribed in the constitution.
President Buhari read a text announcing the minor reshuffle of the cabinet to ministers during Wednesday’s meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The text read in part: “On Wednesday, 21st August, 2019, the current Federal Executive Council was sworn-in after a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons drawn from my first term in office and to emphasise the nine priority areas of government for the second term.
“Two years and some months into the second term, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programmes implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots through sector reporting during cabinet meetings and at retreats.
“These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.
“I must commend this cabinet for demonstrating unparalleled resilience that helped the government to navigate the disruption to global systems and governance occasioned by the emergence of COVID-19 shortly after inauguration. The weekly Federal Executive Council meetings were not spared because the traditional mode was altered.
“As we are all aware, change is the only factor that is constant in every human endeavour and as this administration approaches its critical phase in the second term, I have found it essential to reinvigorate this cabinet in a manner that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy achievements.
“Accordingly, a few cabinet changes, marking the beginning of a continuous process, have been approved.”
President Buhari added: “In due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.
“I have personally met with the departing members to thank them for their contributions to discussions in cabinet and the invaluable services rendered to the nation. Today, effectively marks their last participation in the Federal Executive Council deliberations and I wish them the best in all future endeavours.
“Finally, I wish to reiterate once more, that this process shall be continuous.”
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