By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The Kwara State governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reshuffled his cabinet, bringing on board four new commissioners.
The governor, who sworn-in the four fresh cabinet members, said that there was a need to appoint the new commissioners and rejig the cabinet in order to strengthen
a rebuilding process, and making prudence, discipline, team work, and sacrifice to be the administration’s watchwords.
With the new commissioners’ appointment, the state ministries had increased to 20 from the initial 16.
Speaking at the brief swearing-in ceremony, the governor said, “I congratulate you on your joining the Kwara State Executive Council. It is an opportunity for you to contribute your quota to the development of our state.
“Your nomination underscores our efforts to deepen inclusion. Our decision to expand the ministries serves to break new grounds in terms of human capital and infrastructural development.
“While four new commissioners and a special adviser are coming on board today, we are at the same time moving some existing cabinet members to new areas. These are all tailored towards improved service delivery to the people of Kwara State.
“Notwithstanding the rising tempo of political activities in the new year, we cannot waste a second in this four-year mandate. We should therefore remain focused in serving the Kwara public.”
The newly inaugurated commissioners are: Abdulmaliq Bashir Mopelola Risikatullah, to man the Women Affairs Ministry; George Olabode Towoju, deployed to the Ministry of Communications; Ibrahim Akaje for the new Housing Ministry; and Adamu Jamila Bake for Youth Ministry.
Also, Barrister Sambo Murtala, who was recently announced as the Special Adviser on Legal Matters to the governor was also sworn-in.
The governor also moved three existing cabinet members to other ministries a step he said is meant to improve service delivery to the people of the state.
The rejig saw Olaitan Abosede Buraimoh, moving from the Ministry of Communications to Environment; while Remilekun Banigbe heads the newly created Budget and Planning Ministry.
Formerly of Youth Development, Adenike Harriet Oshatimehin goes to the newly created Solid Minerals Ministry, which evolved from the defunct bulky Ministry of Enterprise. Deborah Aremu stays in the now standalone Ministry of Social Development.
The development means that the state now has 20 ministries, with the old Ministry of Finance and Planning evolving into Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Budget and Planning respectively. The old Works has now been divided into Ministry of Works and Ministry of Housing respectively.
The Ministry of Enterprise is now the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology while the Ministry of Solid Minerals emerged separately.
The old Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is now Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Social Development respectively.
