Tobias Sylvester
President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Sabo Nanono, and Minister of Power, Sale Mamman.
The president’s special adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said in a statement that the decision was disclosed to cabinet members by Buhari during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
Adesina said the sack was part of Buhari’s step 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.”
According to him, Buhari also hinted that the contributions of the former ministers to his government were “weak”, stressing that many Nigerians have continuously complained about the poor state of power and high price of food in the country.
President Buhari also redeployed the Minister of Environment, Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, to assume the office as the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development while Minister of State for Works & Housing, Abubakar D. Aliyu, would assume office as the Minister of Power.
Buhari Sacks Agriculture, Power Ministers
Femi Adesina in a press statement said: “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 9 priority areas of government for the second term.
2. Two years and some months into the second term, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots through sector Reporting during Cabinet meetings and at Retreats.
3. 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.
4. 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 was not spared because the traditional mode was altered.
5. 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.
6. Accordingly, a few cabinet changes, marking the beginning of a continuous process, have been approved. They are as follows:
Ministers Leaving the Cabinet:
I. Mohammed Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and
II. Engr. Sale Mamman, Minister of Power.
Redeployment:
I. Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, to assume office as the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development;
II. Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing assume office as the Minister of Power.
7. In due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.
8. 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.
9. Finally, I wish to reiterate once more, that this process shall be continuous.
10. I thank you all and May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has congratulated the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for recording a profit of N287 billion for the first time in its 44-year history.
