NIGERIA: Tinubu Swears In Doro, Udeh As Ministers To Fill Cabinet Vacancies

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in two newly appointed ministers, Dr Bernard Mohammed Doro and Mr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, at a brief ceremony held inside the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

The swearing-in took place shortly before the commencement of Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by the President.

Dr Doro, a pharmacist and lawyer from Plateau State, replaces Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, who recently became the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Doro’s nomination was confirmed by the Senate in late October. Both he and Yilwatda hail from Plateau State.

Mr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Enugu State, fills the ministerial vacancy created by the resignation of former Minister of Science, Innovation, and Technology, Uche Nnaji. Nnaji stepped down following allegations of certificate forgery.

Udeh’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate earlier on Thursday after a brief screening during plenary. Before his appointment, he served as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State.

The swearing-in ceremony was immediately followed by the Federal Executive Council meeting, during which the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, presented a report on the state of the economy.

As of press time, the meeting was still ongoing, with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in attendance.

Other ministers and Special Advisers were also present as deliberations continued on  key national issues.