Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State have announced fresh appointments and cabinet reshuffles as part of efforts to strengthen governance in their respective states.
Meanwhile, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya has submitted the names of 23 commissioner nominees to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as he moves to reconstitute the State Executive Council.
In Oyo State, Governor Makinde nominated Olabode Ladipo, the Permanent Secretary, General Administration, as commissioner-designate. The nomination was conveyed in a letter signed by the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi.
The governor also appointed Ifeoluwa Akande as Chairman of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport Upgrade Committee, while Isola Adekunle was named Executive Adviser on Intra-Party Affairs. In addition, Oladejo Oladokunwas appointed as a part-time member of the Local Government Service Commission.
According to the government, all the appointments took effect from July 1, 2026.
Makinde also approved the reappointment of members of the Governing Council of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, under the leadership of Prof. Kazeem Adebiyi, who had earlier been appointed to complete the tenure of the late Prof. Abiodun Ojo.
Other members reappointed to the council include Johnson Oladele, Azeem Badmus, Oyetayo Ige, Alice Adedokunand Waziri Adekunle.
In Ebonyi State, Governor Nwifuru carried out a cabinet reshuffle shortly after swearing in two new commissioners, Omari Omaka and Sylvester Nwenu Nwite, alongside Felix Njoku, who was appointed Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation.
Briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, outlined the changes approved by the governor.
Under the new arrangement, Omari Omaka will head the Ministry of Tertiary Education, while Sylvester Nwite takes charge of the Ministry of Environment.
Other redeployments include Chidiebere Onyia, who moved from the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, while Ajuka Nwogo was transferred from the Ministry of Market Development to the Ministry of Skill Acquisition.
Richard Idike was moved from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to the Ministry of Capital City and Urban Development, while Sunday Inyima was reassigned from the Ministry of Capital City and Urban Development to the Ministry of Project Monitoring.
Governor Nwifuru also transferred Ngozi Obichukwu from the Ministry of Aviation to the Ministry of Special Projects, while Magnus Nka moved from the Ministry of Water Resources to the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development.
Similarly, Victor Chukwu was redeployed from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Water Resources, while Okwu Udu was assigned to head the Ministry of Market Development.
The governor directed that all handover procedures be completed before the close of work on Tuesday.
Several commissioners retained their existing portfolios, including Ben Odoh (Justice), Ikeuwa Omebeh (Information and State Orientation), Stanley Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism), Donatus Ilang (Primary and Secondary Education), Elechi Nnanna Elechi (Trade and Investment), Jude Okpor (Rural Development), Oguzor Nwali (Commerce and Industry), Solomon Azi (Grants and Donor Agencies), Collins Igboke (Transportation) and Chinwe Okah (Budget and Planning).
Addressing concerns over the reshuffle, Omebeh dismissed suggestions that the exercise was linked to poor performance.
“This is not about non-performance or removing anyone from office. It is about deploying people to ministries where their expertise and experience can be better utilised in the interest of the state,” he said.
According to Channels Television, the governor based the reshuffle on each commissioner’s professional background, experience and comparative strengths to improve governance.
Reacting to questions about the Ministry of Aviation following the redeployment of its commissioner, Omebeh explained that the ministry remains operational and will be supervised by its Permanent Secretary until further directives are issued.
He expressed confidence that the changes would enhance service delivery and strengthen policy implementation across the state.
In Gombe State, Governor Inuwa Yahaya has forwarded a list of 23 commissioner nominees to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The nominations were contained in a letter dated June 29, 2026, addressed to Speaker Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo, in line with Section 192(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Director-General of Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe, Ismaila Misilli.
The nominees include Alhaji Abdulkadir Mohammed Waziri, Alhaji Sanusi Ahmed, Hajiya Aishatu Mohammed Bose Ahmed, Bala Adams, Micah Sunday Hamman, Mohammed Saidu Mohammed, L.D. Faruk, Muhammad Gambo Magaji, Prof. Aishatu Umaru Maigari, Zubairu M. Umar, Adamu Dishi Kupto, Shehu Yerima Abdullahi, Ibrahim Shehu Turaki, Sani Ahmed Haruna, Moses Kyari Bolda, Yusuf K. Jalingo, Dr. Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, Prof. Danladi Adamu Bojude, Alhaji Salihu Baba Alkali, Dr. Bertha Danja, Dr. Habu Dahiru, Nasiru Muhammad Aliyu and Yusuf Abdu Kwadon.
According to the statement, the governor requested the Assembly’s approval to strengthen policy formulation and improve the implementation of his administration’s development agenda.
The statement quoted Yahaya as saying the nominees were “carefully selected to provide policy direction and functional contributions necessary for the efficient running of the machinery of government and the consolidation of the administration’s development agenda.”
The governor also expressed confidence that the lawmakers would give the request speedy consideration.
The Gombe State House of Assembly is expected to commence screening of the nominees in the coming days. Once confirmed, they will be sworn in by the governor and assigned portfolios as members of the State Executive Council.
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