By Joke Kujenya
THE FEDERAL Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, announced that both the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development have been scrapped.
FEC says this significant move is part of a broader restructuring of Nigeria’s government ministries.
This decision will lead to the establishment of a new Ministry of Regional Development, which will be overseeing all regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the North-West Development Commission, the South-West Development Commission, and the North-East Development Commission.
The aim is to streamline and centralize oversight of regional development efforts under one body for more coordinated governance.
In addition to this change, the role of the Ministry of Sports Development will now be taken over by the National Sports Commission, which will assume responsibility for sports administration across the country.
Moreover, this shift is intended to improve the management and growth of the sports sector.
Another major decision made during the FEC meeting is the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy.
By combining these two ministries, the government hopes to strengthen the promotion of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and drive economic growth through tourism and the creative industries.
The Niger Delta Ministry, established in 2008 under the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was created to address the specific developmental needs of the Niger Delta region, including poverty alleviation and environmental concerns.
Its dissolution signals a shift toward a more unified national approach to regional development.
Similarly, the Ministry of Sports Development, established to enhance the nation’s sports sector, will now see its functions integrated into the National Sports Commission for more focused and effective sports management.
These reforms are noted as part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to reduce bureaucratic overlap and enhance efficiency in governance.
The FEC meeting, which held in Abuja today, saw these decisions being made as the FG says it is aiming for more strategic, streamlined governance to address the country’s diverse regional and sectoral needs.
Breakdown:
FEC Decisions on restructuring of some Federal Ministries on 23-10-2024.
Scrapping of Two Ministries:
Ministries of Niger Delta and Sports Development scrapped
Creation of The Ministry of Regional Development:
Newly set up to oversee all regional development commissions, which include:
• Niger Delta Development Commission
• North-West Development Commission
• South-West Development Commission
• North-East Development Commission
• South-East Development Commission
National Sports Commission:
This commission now takes over the responsibilities of the former Ministry of Sports Development.
Merger of Ministries:
Ministry of Tourism is merged with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy.
