President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to sack five ministers is part of a broader effort to revamp government operations in Nigeria. This move was announced after the Federal Executive Council meeting on October 23, 2024.
Ministerial dismissals are nothing new in Nigeria’s history, dating back to the country’s return to civilian rule in 1999. Past leaders, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, have also made similar moves.
The reasons for these ministerial exits vary. Some were removed due to involvement in scandals, while others became casualties of cabinet reshuffles. In some cases, ministers were pressured to resign without formal announcements. These dismissals reflect the ever-changing dynamics of Nigerian politics.
Below is the list of ministers who have been sacked since 1999 till date according to The Nation:
Barth Nnaji
Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, was forced to resign due to allegations of subverting the bidding process for the Afam Power plant sale.
The professor was a minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Stella Oduah
She was the ex-Minister of Aviation, removed due to corruption allegations, and later charged with money laundering. She served under Jonathan and was sacked in 2014.
Oduah later served as a senator representing Anambra North in the national assembly between 2015 and 2023.
Sabo Nanono
He was a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, sacked as part of a minor cabinet reshuffle....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
Former President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly sacked the Nanono over the failure of the ministry of agriculture.
Saleh Mamman
This is another former minister who supervised the Ministry of Power under the immediate past administration of Buhari.
Like Nanono, Mamman was removed in the same cabinet reshuffle.
Betta Edu
She was the first to be suspended under Tinubu’s current administration and was recently replaced in the cabinet reshuffle.
The former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs was accused of alleged money laundering.
Below is the list of other sacked ministers:
S/N
Names
Title
President
Reason for removal
Year
1
Michael Aondoakaa
Attorney General of the federation
Goodluck Jonathan
Controversial Circumstances
2010
2
Fabian Osuji
Education Minister
Olusegun Obasanjo
Corruption allegation
2005
3
Adenike Grange
Minister of Health
Umar Yar’Adua
Fraud allegation
2008
4
Caleb Olubolade
Minister of Police Affairs
Goodluck Jonathan
To contest Ekiti guber election
2014
5
Godsday Orubebe
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs
Goodluck Jonathan
To contest Delta guber election
2015
6
Yerima Ngama
Minister of state for police affairs
Goodluck Jonathan
To contest Yobe guber `2014election
2014
7
Shamsudeen Usman
Minister of National Planning
Goodluck Jonathan
Cabinet Reshuffle
2014
8
Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai
Minister of Education
Goodluck Jonathan
Failure to resolve the ASUU strike
2013
9
Amal Iyingiala Pepple
Minister of Housing
Goodluck Jonathan
Cabinet reshuffle
2013
10
Bukar Tijani
Minister of State for Agriculture
Goodluck Jonathan
Cabinet reshuffle
2013
11
Olusola Obada
Minister of State for Defence
Goodluck Jonathan
Cabinet reshuffle
2013
12
Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi
Minister of State for Niger Delta
Goodluck Jonathan
Cabinet reshuffle
2013
13
Uju Kennedy
Minister for Women Affairs
Bola Tinubu
Cabinet reshuffle
2024
14
Lola Ade-John
Minister for tourism
Bola Tinubu
Cabinet reshuffle
2024
15
Tahir Mamman
Minister of education
Bola Tinubu
Cabinet reshuffle
2024
16
Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo
Minister of State for Housing
Bola Tinubu
Cabinet reshuffle
2024
17
Jamila Bio Ibrahim
Minister of Youth Development
Bola Tinubu
Cabinet reshuffle
2034
