President Tinubu Swears in Three New Ministers-Presides Over FEC Meeting

President Bola Tinubu administered the oath of office to three new ministers, expanding his 48-person cabinet. The swearing-in ceremony occurred at the Council Chamber of the State House at noon on Monday.

The new ministers, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande, and Balarabe Lawal, officially assumed their roles ahead of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which President Tinubu presided over.

The oath of office was administered to the three ministers at 12:15 p.m. by President Tinubu.

This event occurred nearly two weeks after the Senate’s approval of the ministers following their screening on October 4, 2023.

On September 17, 2023, President Tinubu nominated Jamila Bio Ibrahim as the Minister of Youth and Ayodele Olawande as the Minister of State for Youth. Additionally, he requested the Senate’s screening for Balarabe Lawal as the Minister from Kaduna.

Lawal assumed the role of Minister of Environment, succeeding his predecessor under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Among those who were sworn in were;

Jamila Bio Ibrahim: A 37-year-old medical doctor, politician, and development expert. She advocates for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and previously served as the National President of the APC Young Women Forum.

A 34-year-old community development expert and youth leader within the All Progressives Congress. He previously served as the special adviser on innovation to former President Muhammadu Buhari and the office of Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo from 2019 to 2023.

Prior to the commencement of the FEC meeting, the Council observed a minute’s silence in honor of Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, who passed away on July 1, 2023. Ajose-Adeogun, aged 96, served as the Minister of Federal Capital from 1976 to 1979 during the Murtala Mohammed military regime.

The FEC meeting is significant as it is the second council gathering since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023. The Council had a 48-day hiatus, with its previous meeting held on August 28, following the swearing-in of the initial 45 ministers.

The Federal Executive Council plays a pivotal role in policy formulation and the execution of government projects. This recent expansion of the cabinet reflects the administration’s focus on governance and policy development to address key national challenges and issues.