There has been a minor cabinet reshuffle in Edo State, with two Commissioners swapping offices, but with new designations because of a rationalization that has also been approved by the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
The rationalization affects several of the State Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. The reshuffle and rationalization of MDAs has led to the merger of certain ministries and re-deployment of Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries.
The rationalization of the MDAs is as a result of dwindling accruals from the Federation Account, which can no longer sustain the existing structure of the government.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, said in statement that the governor gave the approval for the reshuffle during the Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
In the cabinet reshuffle, Andrew Emwanta has been moved from the Ministry of Communication and Orientation to the Ministry of Youths and Gender Issues, while Chris Nehikhare will now man the Ministry of Communication and Orientation. This is a direct swap of portfolios by the two commissioners.
Also, an Office of Special Duties has been created and is to be headed by a Commissioner, Osasere Malachi Evbuomwan.
In the new structure, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has been merged with the Ministry of Finance to become the Ministry of Finance, Budget, Economic Planning and Development. The Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs is now the Ministry of Youth and Gender Issues while the former Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues is now the Ministry of Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs.
In addition, the Ministry of Science and Technology is now the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and Technology; Ministry of Mining, Oil and Gas has been merged with the Ministry of Energy to become the Ministry of Mining and Energy; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is now the Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives; Ministry of Housing has been merged with the Ministry of Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development to become the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development while Ministry of Local Government has been merged with the Ministry of Community and Chieftaincy Affairs and renamed Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Mr. Ogie listed the Permanent Secretaries affected in the rationalization and movements to include Osagie A. Peter who has been moved from the Ministry of Housing to the Ministry of Youths and Gender Issues while Felicia Edwards is now at the Ministry of Public Security and Safety. Edionwe Joel, formerly of the Ministry of Public Security and Safety is now in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, while Efe Iserhienrhien of the former Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is now in the Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives.
Barbara Nekpen Aluyi Osobajo of the former Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues is now in the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development. Ifueko Alufohai of the former Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs is now in the Ministry of Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs while Abieyuwa Naps from the Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives is now in the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and Technology.
Others include Washington Abbe who moves from the Ministry of Transport to the Local Government Pensions Bureau while Gilbert Egwakhide has been moved from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Special Duties. Okodugha Birgitta has been deployed from the former Ministry of Science and Technology to the Edo State Information and Communication Technology Agency, ICTA.
