PRESIDENT BUHARI TO HAVE 25 SUBSTANTIVE MINISTERS, SCRAP 5 MINISTRIES INCLUDING AVIATION

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to announce 25 substantive ministers as he inaugurates the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Senate recently confirmed 36 ministers-designate, but only 25 of them would be senior ministers, while 11 will be either Ministers of State (Junior Ministers) or Ministers without portfolio.Indications emerged late on Tuesday that the federal ministries have been pruned down to 25.It shows that no fewer than five ministries have been scrapped.

They include the Ministries of Aviation, Police Affairs, Land and Housing and Culture and Tourism.The ministry of Land and Housing has been merged with the Ministry of Works.It is now to be known as the Ministry of Works and Housing.The National Sports Commission has moved to the Ministry of Youth Development.It will now be called the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism was phased out to give way for the Ministry of Information and Culture.Also, Police Affairs and Special Duties are now under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

In the same vein, the Budget Office, which was under the Ministry of Finance, has now been moved to National Planning.

It will be recalled that President Buhari had late on Tuesday approved the appointment and redeployment of Federal Permanent Secretaries, with only 25 of them deployed to ministries, while others are to serve in the Offices of the SGF, Head of Service, State House, Special Services, Cabinet, Economic Affairs and Political Affairs.

The 25 ministries are:

1. Fed. Min. of Agriculture and Rural Development

2. Fed. Min. of Communications

3. Fed. Min. of Transportation

4. Fed. Min. of Information and Culture

5. Fed. Min. of Defence

6. Fed. Min. of Education

7. Fed. Min. Budget and National Planning

8. Fed. Min. of Finance

9. Fed. Min of Foreign Affairs

10. Fed. Min. of Health

11. Fed. Min. of Industry, Trade and Investment

12. Fed. Min. of Internal Affairs

13. Fed. Ministry of Justice

14. Fed. Min. of Science and Technology

15. Fed. Min. of Labour and Productivity

16. Fed. Min of Petroleum Resources

17. Fed. Min of Women Affairs

18. Federal Capital Territory

19. Fed. Min. of Water Resources

20. Fed. Min of Environment

21. Fed. Min. of Niger Delta Affairs

22. Fed. Min. of Solid Minerals

23. Fed. Min of Youth and Sports

24. Fed. Min. of Works and Housing

25. Fed. Min. of Power.