President Bola Tinubu has announced the enlistment of two new spokespersons to his government, including Sunday Dare and Daniel Bwala, who, according to the presidency, will both serve as co-spokespersons to Bayo Onanuga. The shakeup is aimed at ensuring effective and consistent communication of government policies, decisions, and engagements.
There is no longer only one spokesperson for the president, according to a statement released late Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. It also stated that Daniel Bwala and Sunday Dare will now work together as spokespersons in the president’s office.
The presidency explained that the shakeup is aimed at ensuring effective and consistent communication of government policies, decisions, and engagements.
“President Bola Tinubu has re-designated the positions of two recently appointed officials in the State House media and communications team to enhance efficiency within the government’s communication machinery.
“The restructuring is as follows: Sunday Dare—the hitherto Special Adviser on Public Communication and National Orientation is now Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications.
“Mr. Daniel Bwala, announced last week as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication, is now Special Adviser Policy Communication.
“These appointments, along with the existing role of Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, underscore that there is no single individual spokesperson for the Presidency.
“Instead, all the three Special Advisers will collectively serve as spokespersons for the government.”
It would be recalled that in October, Tinubu sacked five ministers and appointed seven new ones. The president also reassigned ten ministers to new positions, his office said.
The five sacked ministers are Uju-Ken Ohanenye, the former minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John, the former minister of Tourism; Tahir Mamman, the minister of Education; Abdullahi Gwarzo, minister of state, Housing and Urban Development; and Jamila Ibrahim, minister of Youth Development.
The newly appointed ministers, confirmed by the Senate, are Nentawe Yilwatda, Muhammadu Dingyadi, Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu, Jumoke Oduwole, Idi Maiha, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Suwaiba Ahmad.
The presidency said the dismissal and appointments are part of “eight far-reaching actions to reinvigorate the administration’s capacity for optimal efficiency under his commitment to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.”
In keeping with his pledge to Nigerians, the president also authorized the execution of eight comprehensive measures aimed at revitalizing the administration’s ability to function at its best.
The eight actions approved include:
1. The renaming of the Ministry of Nigeria Delta Development to Ministry of Regional Development to oversee the activities of all the Regional Development Commissions. The Regional Development Commissions to be under the supervision of the new Ministry are the Niger Delta Development Commission, the South East Development Commission, the North East Development, and the North West Development Commission.
2. The immediate winding up of the Ministry of Sports Development and the transfer of its functions to the National Sports Commission to develop a vibrant sport economy.
3. The merger of the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture to become Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.
4. The re-assignment of ten (10) ministers to new ministerial portfolios.
5. The discharge of five (5) ministers.
6. The nomination and confirmation of seven (7) new ministers for onward transmission to Senate for confirmation.
7. The appointment of Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission.
8. The appointment of Sunday Akin Dare as Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation working from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation
