Buhari inaugurates cabinet, assigns portfolios

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in 36 ministers to form his cabinet at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock and assigned them portfolios.

Some of the Ministers taking the oath of office.

The swearing-in, which was done in nine batches, was witnessed by two guests each of the appointees, some governors and chieftains of APC.

The president, who is also a minister, described the event as a milestone and added that since his inauguration in May, he had been optimistic of bringing high quality persons into his cabinet.

He said the choice was deliberate to appoint square pegs in square holes to avoid the mistake of appointing those who would not perform.

He said the government would continue to implement its policies decisively.

The president said the government was determined to diversify the economy to make the agriculture and solid mineral sectors major revenue earners.

``The primary aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of rice, wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of those items as well as solid minerals.’’

He said the administration would pursue policies that would generate employment, improve security, tackle corruption and rout Boko Haram insurgency and other social vices.

Buhari said his administration had made progress in its short period, which should be taken as indication that more could be achieved through common resolve and patriotism by all.

He said the introduction of the Treasury Single Account had conserved foreign exchange and made money available for governance.

The president added that the Central Bank of Nigeria had implemented specific policies to strengthen the naira and preserved foreign reserves.

He said the administration was poised to sustain economic growth through transparent governance, which had led to a reduction of ``cynicism’’ about government.

After the inauguration, the Federal Executive Council held its inaugural meeting

The list of ministers and their portfolios is as follows:
1. Muhammadu Buhari -- Minister of Petroleum
2. Ibe kachikwu - State, Petroleum
3. Enyinnaya Okechukwu Enelema - Industry, Trade and investment
4. . Aisha Abubakar -State, Industry, Trade and Investment
5. Mohammed Musa Bello - Federal Capital Territory
6. Udo Udoma - Budget and National Planning
7. Zainab Ahmed -State, Budget and National Planning
8. Chris Ngige - Labour and Employment
9. James Ocholli - State, Labour and Employment
10. Audu Ogbe - Agriculture and Rural Development
11. Heneiken Lokpobiri -- State, Agriculture and Rural Development
12. Adamu Adamu - Education
13. Anthony Onwuka - State, Education
14. Babatunde Fashola - Power, Works and Housing
15. Mustapha Baba Shauri - State, Power, Works and Housing
16. Usani Usani Uguru - Niger Delta
17. Omole Daramola -State, Niger Delta
18. Ogbonnaya Onu - Science and Technology
19. Isaac Adewole - Health
20. Osagie Ehanire – State, Health
21. John Kayode Fayemi - Solid Minerals
22. Bawa Bwari Abubakar - State, Solid Minerals
23. Gregory Onyeama - Foreign Affairs
24. Khadijat Buka Abba Ibrahim - State, Foreign Affairs
25. Amina Mohammed - Environment
26. Ibrahim Jibrin - State, Environment
27. Suleiman Adamu Kazaure - Water Resources
28. Abdulrahman Dambazau - Interior
29. Rotimi Amaechi -Transport
30. Hadi Sirika -State, Aviation
31. Abubakar Malami -Justice
32. Lai Mohammed – Information
33. Folake Adeosun – Finance
34. Adebayo Shittu - Communication
35. Solomon Dalong -Youth and Sports
36. Aisha Jumai Alhassan - Women Affairs
37. Manir Dan-Ali - Defence. (NAN)