Society Gists

President Bola Tinubu swore in three additional ministers into his 48-person cabinet at noon on Monday.

Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande and Balarabe Lawal took the oath of office at 12:15 pm at the Council Chamber of the State House before the start of the Federal Executive Council meeting which Tinubu is presiding.

This comes nearly two weeks after the Senate cleared the trio after screening on October 4, 2023.

On September 17, 2023, President Tinubu nominated Ibrahim and Olawande as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth, respectively.

He also requested the Senate to screen Balarabe Lawal as minister from Kaduna.

Lawal, who served as secretary to the government under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, replaces his principal in Tinubu’s cabinet as minister of environment.

Ibrahim, 37, hails from Kwara State. She is a medical doctor, politician and development expert and advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Before her recent appointment, she served as the National President of the APC Young Women Forum.

Olawande, 34, is a community development expert and youth leader within the All Progressives Congress.

Before his nomination, Olawande served as the special adviser on innovation to the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, and office of the vice president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. He occupied the role from 2019 to 2023.

Before the meeting began, the Council observed a minute’s silence in honour of Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, who passed on July 1, 2023.

Ajose-Adeogun who died at the age of 96 was appointed the Minister of Federal Capital in 1976 by the Murtala Mohammed military regime and served in the position till 1979.

Monday’s meeting is the second council gathering since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2-23.

It comes after a 48-day hiatus.

The PUNCH reports that the Council has not convened since its inaugural meeting on August 28. A week earlier, on August 21, Tinubu swore in 45 ministers who then attended the maiden cabinet meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on August 28.

Article 144 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) recognises the “Executive Council of the Federation” (the Federal Executive Council) as the “body of Ministers of the Government of the Federation, howsoever called, established by the President and charged with such responsibilities for the functions of government as the President may direct.”

The Council’s purpose is to formulate policies, execute government projects, and, more broadly, aid the President in discharging his executive functions.

Domiciled in the Cabinet Affairs Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Council primarily comprises the President, Vice President, and the appointed ministers.

As Article 148 (2) of the Constitution states, the President is required to seek advice or act on the recommendations of other constitutionally mandated advisory bodies such as the Council of State, the National Security Council, and the Nigeria Police Council, among others, each of which meets occasionally to offer such advice and recommendations.

According to the CAO, “the FEC meets weekly to discuss scheduled items and take decisions.”

Present are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan and all Ministers and Ministers of State.