By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
President Bola Tinubu on Monday swore in eight newly appointed federal permanent secretaries and 18 commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The brief ceremonies were held inside the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, just before the commencement of the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The swearing-in, which was conducted in two batches of four each, was anchored by the director of media in the office of the president, Abiodun Oladunjoye, who read the citations of the appointees.
The new permanent secretaries include Onwusoro Ihemelandu (Abia State), Ndiomu Philip (Bayelsa State), Anuma Nlia (Ebonyi State), Ogbodo Nnam (Enugu State), and Kalba Usman (Gombe State). Others are Usman Aminu (Kebbi State), Oyekunle Nwakuso (Rivers State), and Nadungu Gagare (Kaduna State).
Similarly, President Tinubu swore in 18 newly appointed federal commissioners of the RMAFC, alongside a federal commissioner for the Federal Character Commission and a member of the National Population Commission.
The RMAFC commissioners, whose appointments were confirmed by the Senate last August, include Linda Oti (Abia), Akpan Effiong (Akwa Ibom), Enefe Ekene (Anambra), Prof. Steve Ugba (Benue), Chief Eyonsa (Cross River), Aruviere Egharhevwe (Delta), Nduka Awuregu (Ebonyi), Victor Eboigbe (Edo), Wumi Ogunlola (Ekiti), Ozo Obodougo (Enugu), and Kabir Mashi (Katsina).
Others are Adamu Fanda (Kano), Dr. Kunle Wright (Lagos), Aliyu Abdulkadir (Nasarawa), Bako Shetima (Niger), Nathaniel Adejutelegan (Ondo), Saad Ibrahim (Plateau), Modu-Aji Juluri (Yobe), Bello Garba (Zamfara), and Mohammed Usman (Gombe).
Also sworn in was a member of the Federal Character Commission, and a member of the National Population Commission.
Also, former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Kayode Oladele, was sworn in as a member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), representing Ogun State
Mrs. Olukemi Victoria Iyantan (Ondo), was also sworn in as commissioner National Population Commission (NPC).
President Tinubu urged the newly inaugurated permanent secretaries and commissioners to uphold diligence, innovation, and commitment in the discharge of their duties, emphasizing the importance of their roles in advancing the administration’s governance and development agenda.
The upper chamber approved the appointments after considering the report of its Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, presented by its chairperson, Abdullahi Yahaya.
Yahaya, the senator representing Kebbi North Senatorial District, said the nominees have been screened at the committee level and that they possessed all the requirements for the positions.
He said the appointments would ensure fairness and federal representation in all the geo-political zones.
“This confirmation brings the commission to its full complement, with every state having representation,” Mr Yahaya added.
The swearing-in ceremony was followed by the commencement of the FEC meeting.
Just before the FEC commenced, members of the Council observed a minute of silence in honour of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jeremiah Useni, who passed away on January 23, 2025.
Present at the Council meeting were the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Head of Service, Didi Walson-Jack, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as Ministers.