Nearly all the old ministers who are on the list of the ministerial nominees President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded to the Senate for confirmation may return to their former ministries, Huhuonline.com has learnt. The screening of the nominees, which began on Wednesday, is expected to end on Monday when the last batch of eight nominees will be considered.
Sources confided to Huhuonline.com that most, if not all of the former Ministers will be returned to their erstwhile portfolios so as to ensure continuation in policy direction and execution of projects. The sources said that except there was a last-minute change of plans, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi would return to the Ministry of Transport; Captain Hadi Sirika would retain his Aviation portfolio; Dr. Chris Ngige would continue at the Ministry of Labor and Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) would still go back to his old position as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
In addition, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed would still manage the Ministry of Finance; Adamu Adamu (Education), Lai Mohammed (Information) and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu would retain his old portfolio at the Ministry of Science and Technology.
However, the sources said while Babatunde Fashola (SAN) would retain his old portfolio, his burden might be reduced as there were plans to unbundle the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, which he superintended during Buhari’s first term in office. One option being considered regarding Fashola’s former mega ministry is to appoint two junior ministers to assist Fashola in running the jumbo ministry.
If, however, the Ministry is unbundled, then Fashola would retain the Power portfolio while former Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Olamilekan Adegbite, might be assigned as Minister of Housing; and the former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio might be the new Minister of Works.
However, for the fresh faces in the cabinet, it was learnt that Sunday Akin Dare, an executive director with Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been penciled to oversee the Ministry of Communications; Festus Keyamo (SAN), would likely go to the Ministry of Youths and Sports; Hon. Emeka Nwajuiba is likely to be Minister of State for Education while Senator Tayo Alasoadura is being considered as either Minister of State for Niger Delta or Budget and Planning.
Also, former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora, is most likely the next Minister of Health and Jedi Agba could be heading to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as the Minister of State for Petroleum while Buhari remains the substantive minister. It was also gathered that Gbemisola Saraki, sister to former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, would be made a junior minister but no final decision had been taken yet on which ministry she would be assigned.
