11 November 2015•Update: 12 November 2015
By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS, Nigeria
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday sworn in 36 ministers, seven months after he took office on the back of a historic election promising change that encompasses waging anti-corruption war, lifting millions of his countrymen out of extreme poverty and stamping out Boko Haram insurgency.
Buhari said at the swearing in ceremony that he considered "putting round pegs in round holes" in the choice of his Cabinet ministers, adding that his administration would continue to pursue "economic policies mindful of drop in oil price".
With Nigeria's foreign exchange reserves plunged to a record low as a result of the oil crisis and the government struggling to pay workers, Buhari said focus would be on agriculture and solid minerals as new sources of revenue.
"Overall, our economy is poised for sustained job creation, poverty reduction and sustained growth," according to the president.
Some of the stars in the Cabinet included former governor of the country's commercial capital Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, who would man the ministries of Power, Works and Housing; former governor Kayode Fayemi who is in charge of solid minerals; Ibe Kachikwu who is junior minister for petroleum; Audu Ogbe for the Ministry of Agriculture; and Amina Mohammed for environment. Buhari named himself senior petroleum minister, a move that drew criticism for being "unlawful" and led to speculation that he could not find anyone he thought was capable to do the job.
Little-known -- yet egghead -- Kemi Adeosun was handed the finance portfolio to give direction to Africa's largest economy.
Touted as one of the youngest in the Cabinet, Adeosun is a finance professional with over 23 years experience gained in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. She is an economics graduate and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, as well as of Nigeria. She, until her appointment, was the finance commissioner in southwest Ogun State.
In apparent bid to cut cost, the president has pruned down federal ministries from 29 to 25. Some of the ministries have more than one ministers, some being junior or state ministers.
The swearing in came barely 24 hours after Buhari sacked 17 senior civil servants known as permanent secretary, and appointed new ones -- a step seen as being part of the house-cleaning by the president.
