Buhari slashes federal ministries to 25

Ahead of Wednesday’s (today) inauguration of 36 ministers-designate, there were indications on Tuesday that President Muhammadu Buhari, had reduced the number of federal ministries to 25 from about 29,Punch reports.

Under the new dispensation, the ministries of police affairs, aviation and special duties appear to have been scrapped while ministries of Lands, Housing, Urban Development and Works have been merged to become Ministry of Works and Housing. Also, the information, culture, national orientation and tourism ministries have been collapsed into one Ministry of Information and Culture.

Also, the Ministries of Sports as well as Youth Development have also been merged to form Ministry of Sports and Youth Development.

The Ministry of Aviation is now under the Ministry of Transportation, among other mergers.

The development came even as the President on Tuesday retired 17 permanent secretaries and announced the appointment of 18 new ones.

Indication that the President had settled for just 25 ministries was contained in the announcement of the appointment and deployment of permanent secretaries by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.