Buhari to swear-in his new cabinet on August 21 after two-day induction retreat

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is to swear-in the new members of his cabinet at a special ceremony on Wednesday August 21 in Abuja after they have gone through a two-day induction course taking place on the 19th and 20th.

 

After being sworn-in himself on May 29, President Buhari kept the nation waiting with his list of ministerial nominees but three weeks ago he announced the list of his 43 ministerial nominees. Over the last two weeks, the senate has screened and approved the names and although they have not officially been assigned portfolios, news of who would be doing what leaked out last week.

 

With the screening process complete, the minsters will undergo an induction course at a retreat on August 19 and 20 and be sworn-in the next day. According to Babatunde Lawal, the permanent secretary in the Cabinet Affairs Office, the two-day induction for the new ministers had originally been scheduled for August 15 and 16 but has now been moved.

 

Last week on August 2, the secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, had invited the ministers-designate to pick up relevant documents for their study and guidance, preparatory to the inauguration of the cabinet. These documents include status reports on policies, programmes and projects, a 2019-2023 Road Map and the Federal Executive Committee Handbook, among others.

 

Mr Mustapha had also requested the new ministers to submit to his office their updated curriculum vitae in soft and hard copies as well as any valid identification document. Among the new appointees are former Akwa Ibom State governor Godswill Akpabio, lawyer Festus Keyamo, Adeleke Mamora, Gbemisola Saraki, Rauf Aregbesola, Timipre Silva and ex-Benue governor George Akume.

 

Ministers who served in the last cabinet who are returning include Babatunde Fashola, Chris Ngige, Rotimi Amaechi,. Lai Mohammed, Geoffrey Onyeama and Zainab Ahmed. Last week, however, it appears that the list was leaked to the press without official approval.

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