Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, charged the newly-inaugurated Ministers of the Federal Republic to put the needs and welfare of the whole country and its varied population ahead of any regional or state-specific concerns.

While President Tinubu spoke at the new members of the Federal Executive Council’s (FECs) inauguration at the State House Conference Centre, he emphasized the enormous responsibility the ministers now carry in formulating laws that would have a substantial impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of Nigerians.

The president said, “You are not a minister of a particular state, colony, region, or ethnic nationality. You are a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 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, 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.”

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President Tinubu went on to warn the new ministers not to let down Nigerians, who count on them to fulfil the administration’s Renewed Hope manifesto with competence, dignity, and honesty; otherwise, he won’t hesitate to take the required corrective action.

While congratulating the ministers, the President said, “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,” he said, welcoming the ministers to “the Administration of Renewed Hope.”

Afterwards, Tinubu reiterated that the newly appointed ministers were chosen based on their records of achievement in the public and commercial sectors, highlighting how well they reflect Nigeria’s vast variety.

Expressing his wishes for the success of the cabinet members in the discharge of their duties, Tinubu said, “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.”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has threatened to embark on demolition of houses built illegally.

The minister said this in his inaugural address at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) office on Monday.

He was among the 45 ministers whom President Bola Tinubu swore into office at the presidential villa in Abuja.

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Flanked by Mariya Mahmud, Minister of FCT (state), Wike vowed to move against structures obstructing Abuja master plan.

“People who are distorting the master plan of Abuja, too bad… Refuse everywhere. Those being paid for refuse collection, what are they doing? So, we must also sit down to look at different ways of waste disposal. It is very key. All those people distorting the master plan of Abuja, too bad.. if you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down, be you a minister or an ambassador.

“If you know you have developed where you are not supposed to develop your house must go down. Those who have taken over the green area to build, sorry the green area must come back. So, If you know you have anybody who is involved, anyone that has taken over the green areas and the parks to restaurants, we won’t accept that. Sorry, if your father or your mother has done that, there is nothing I can do.

“The period of land racketeering is over; those government has given C of O and they refuse to develop, the land is gone. I’m going to revoke them. We will take back the land and give it to those who want to develop. Those of you who also have refused to pay your ground rent. non-payment of ground rent is a breach of covenant. Abuja needs money too. The source of the revenue includes ground rent. So, if you have not paid, I won’t be tired to revoke.”

Newly sworn-in Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, on Monday knelt before President Bola Tinubu after signing the oath of service.

The inauguration of the new ministers was held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

During the event, Ade-John signed her oath of service register, before walking to where the President sat and knelt before him, then shook hands with him.

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Among attendees of the event include Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House Representatives, Tajudeen Abass; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; and Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Chief Uche Nnaji, gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 general elections in Enugu state was among the newly appointed Ministers sworn in on Monday by President Bola Tinubu after screening and confirmation by the senate.

The event, which kicked off at 10am, is ongoing at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Chief Uche Nnaji

Tinubu had earlier assigned portfolios to the ministers.

Daily Gazette correspondent gathered that the swearing in was done in batches.

Chief Uche Nnaji is now the Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology.

Other ministers sworn in were:

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice
Lateef FagbemiAdvertorial

Minister of State, Gas Resources
Ekperipe Ekpo

Minister of State, Labour and Employment
Nkiruka Onyejeocha

Minister of Women Affairs
Uju Kennedy

Minister of Education
Tahir Maman

Second batch:

Minster of Agriculture and Food Security
Abubakar Kyari

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Yusuf M. Tuggar

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare
Ali Pate

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation
Joseph Utsev

Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri is the Hon. Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources

Third batch of ministers:

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
Festus Keyamo

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
Betta Edu

Minister of Sports Development
John Enoh

Minister of Works
David Umahi

Minister of Niger Delta Development
Abubakar Momoh among others

Some protesters are currently on the streets in defiance to the ban on demonstrations by the police.

The state commissioner of police, Mohammed Usain Gumel, had banned protests after members of the ruling New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) asked their members to pour on the streets over alleged bribery of the judiciary.

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The commissioner said any attempt to disrespect the ban would be treated as an offence against National Security.

He said, “Members of the public should therefore note that it has come to our knowledge that both the APC and the NNPP members are currently mobilizing rented crowd in the guise of Civil Society Coalition and without clearance from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and without prior approval from the security agencies in the state.

“Both organizers as well as the umbrella body should note that any attempt to disrespect NLC and the Security Agencies in the state, by playing around the fragile security situation, which the combined security agencies have been managing, is not only uncivil, criminal but also an offense against National Security.”

But shortly after the order, the protesters converged on the streets and headed for the Government House.

The President, Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF), Ibrahim Waiya, led the protest to the Government House.

The Kano State Police Command has banned protests across the state.

The state commissioner of police, Mohammed Usain Gumel, gave the order after members of the ruling New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) asked their members to pour on the streets over alleged bribery of the judiciary.

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The commissioner said any attempt to disrespect the ban would be treated as an offence against National Security.

He said, “Members of the public should therefore note that it has come to our knowledge that both the APC and the NNPP members are currently mobilizing rented crowd in the guise of Civil Society Coalition and without clearance from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and without prior approval from the security agencies in the state.

“Both organizers as well as the umbrella body should note that any attempt to disrespect NLC and the Security Agencies in the state, by playing around the fragile security situation, which the combined security agencies have been managing, is not only uncivil, criminal but also an offense against National Security.

“Finally, this Police Command is ever grateful with the enormous support and cooperation it has been enjoying from the good people of the State for the peace, security, stability and the overall interest of all.”

The organisation stated on Friday via its X (formerly Twitter) verified page that it will be a waste of public funds for the former governors to still be paid life pensions while serving as ministers and being on the payroll in President Bola Tinubu’s government.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has declared its readiness to approach a court to seek an order to restrain all former Nigerian governors from accessing life pensions while still serving as ministers.

The organisation stated on Friday via its X (formerly Twitter) verified page that it will be a waste of public funds for the former governors to still be paid life pensions while serving as ministers and being on the payroll in President Bola Tinubu’s government.

The statement reads: “We’re suing to block former governors Wike, Umahi, Badaru, Matawalle, Lalong, Oyetola, Bagudu and Gaidam from receiving life pensions, free health care, exotic cars and other allowances from their states while serving as ministers.”

At least 17 former state governors who handed over to their successors on May 29, 2023, and are set to receive generous benefits for their services to their respective states, despite economic crises, rising debts, and disgruntled and underpaid workers and pensioners.

Former governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and David Umahi (Ebonyi) arsome of the governors set to benefit from generous pension benefits.

Others are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, Darius Ishaku, Abubakar Bello, Abubakar Bagudu, Nasir El-Rufai, Simon Lalong, Aminu Masari and Aminu Tambuwal of Enugu, Benue, Taraba, Niger, Kebbi, Kaduna, Plateau, Katsina and Sokoto states respectively.

Bola Tinubu on Wednesday appointed Wike as the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Umahi as his minister of works and Matawalle as the Minister of State for Defence, among others.

The passionate appeal by a former Chief of staff to the Imo State government, Uche Nwosu, for the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Ganduje, to reconcile aggrieved members of the party may have started yielding positive results.

On Thursday, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and a former governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha — both prominent sons of the state who have been at each other’s jugular over political rivalry were seen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, getting ready for a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

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Recall that Uche Nwosu had earlier, made a courtesy call on Ganduje at the APC Secretariat in Abuja, urging the National Chairman to carry everyone along, and to bring harmony in the party.

Nwosu had underscored the need for a united APC to enable the party to bring the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

Uzodimma and Okorocha had arrived at the State House in the company of the National Chairman of the ruling APC, Umar Ganduje.

Presidency sources had it that less than one hour after the parties arrived, they were joined by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Ganduje is expected to take the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and the current Imo State Governor, Uzodinma, and his immediate predecessor and the Lagos State Governor to President Tinubu’s residence.