From Obasanjo to Tinubu: Full List of Ministers Sacked, Suspended From 1999 to 2024

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  • President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, October 23, announced a major cabinet reshuffle, sacking five ministers just after they spent one year in office
  • The presidency announced the development after a federal executive council meeting where Tinubu dissolved and merged some ministries
  • However, Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999, presidents have been sacking ministers and the list of affected ministers has been compiled

President Bola Tinubu's recent decision to sack five ministers is part of a broader effort to revamp government operations in Nigeria. This move was announced after the Federal Executive Council meeting on October 23, 2024.

Ministerial dismissals are nothing new in Nigeria's history, dating back to the country's return to civilian rule in 1999. Past leaders, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar'Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, have also made similar moves.

Cabinet Reshuffle: List of Ex-Buhari's Appointees Tinubu Re-AppointedPresident Bola Tinubu has given appointments to some former President Muhammadu Buhari's appointees during the cabinet reshuffle and their list has been compiled.by  Bada Yusuf, 25 Oct 2024
List of ministers sacked since the return of democracy in 1999 Photo Credit: @officialABATSource: Twitter

The reasons for these ministerial exits vary. Some were removed due to involvement in scandals, while others became casualties of cabinet reshuffles. In some cases, ministers were pressured to resign without formal announcements. These dismissals reflect the ever-changing dynamics of Nigerian politics.

Below is the list of ministers who have been sacked since 1999 till date according to The Nation:

Barth Nnaji

Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, was forced to resign due to allegations of subverting the bidding process for the Afam Power plant sale.

The professor was a minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Stella Oduah

She was the ex-Minister of Aviation, removed due to corruption allegations, and later charged with money laundering. She served under Jonathan and was sacked in 2014.

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Oduah later served as a senator representing Anambra North in the national assembly between 2015 and 2023.

Sabo Nanono

He was a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, sacked as part of a minor cabinet reshuffle.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly sacked the Nanono over the failure of the ministry of agriculture.

Saleh Mamman

This is another former minister who supervised the Ministry of Power under the immediate past administration of Buhari.

Like Nanono, Mamman was removed in the same cabinet reshuffle.

Betta Edu

She was the first to be suspended under Tinubu's current administration and was recently replaced in the cabinet reshuffle.

The former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs was accused of alleged money laundering.

Below is the list of other sacked ministers:

S/NNamesTitlePresidentReason for removalYear
1Michael AondoakaaAttorney General of the federationGoodluck JonathanControversial Circumstances2010
2Fabian OsujiEducation MinisterOlusegun ObasanjoCorruption allegation2005
3Adenike GrangeMinister of HealthUmar Yar'AduaFraud allegation2008
4Caleb OluboladeMinister of Police AffairsGoodluck JonathanTo contest Ekiti guber election2014
5Godsday OrubebeMinister of Niger Delta AffairsGoodluck JonathanTo contest Delta guber election2015
6Yerima NgamaMinister of state for police affairsGoodluck JonathanTo contest Yobe guber `2014election2014
7Shamsudeen UsmanMinister of National PlanningGoodluck JonathanCabinet Reshuffle2014
8Ruqayyatu Ahmed RufaiMinister of EducationGoodluck JonathanFailure to resolve the ASUU strike2013
9Amal Iyingiala PeppleMinister of HousingGoodluck JonathanCabinet reshuffle2013
10Bukar TijaniMinister of State for AgricultureGoodluck JonathanCabinet reshuffle2013
11Olusola ObadaMinister of State for DefenceGoodluck JonathanCabinet reshuffle2013
12Zainab Ibrahim KuchiMinister of State for Niger DeltaGoodluck JonathanCabinet reshuffle2013
13Uju KennedyMinister for Women AffairsBola TinubuCabinet reshuffle2024
14Lola Ade-JohnMinister for tourismBola TinubuCabinet reshuffle2024
15Tahir MammanMinister of educationBola TinubuCabinet reshuffle2024
16Abdullahi Tijjani GwarzoMinister of State for HousingBola TinubuCabinet reshuffle2024
17Jamila Bio IbrahimMinister of Youth DevelopmentBola TinubuCabinet reshuffle2034
After Sacking, Tinubu Issues Major Restrictions to Ministers, Reason EmergesPresident Bola Tinubu has issued tough restrictions to ministers, ministers of state and heads of agencies as he sacked some ministers. He gave reasons.by  Bada Yusuf, 24 Oct 2024

Tinubu meets an old friend, Atiku

Legit.ng earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu and former vice president Atiku Abubakar have been seen exchanging handshakes at the national mosque in Abuja.

In a statement, the presidency said Tinubu and Atiku attended the wedding of Senator Danjuma Goje's daughter.

APC national chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and the chairman of the PDP governors' forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, were also present at the event.