El-Rufai downsizes ministries from 19 to 13

Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State has reduced the number of ministries in the state from 19 to 13 for effective service delivery. The information is contained in a statement issued by Samuel Aruwan, the Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), to the governor in Kaduna on Tuesday. The statement added that the governor also reduced the number of commissioners to be appointed to 13. “Accordingly, the Kaduna State Government has announced the restructuring of its ministries from 19 to 13.

“This is intended to cut costs and efficiency to improve service delivery.“ The statement said the development was in continuation of El-Rufa’I’s efforts to cut the cost of governance in the state. “El-Rufai decided to reduce the number of commissioners to only 13 as against the 24 appointed by the immediate past administration.

“The governor will also limit the number of aides that the 13 commissioners will recruit to support them in the discharge of their duties,’’ it said.

According to the statement, Rufai has repeatedly stated that the state government must direct more of its resources to delivering public services that require a reduction in the proportion of government. The new ministries will include Ministries for Justice, Agriculture and Forestry, Commerce, Industry and Tourism. Others are Local Government, Youth, Sports and Culture, Environment and Natural Resources, according to the statement.

“Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministry for Water Resources, Ministry for Health and Human Services, Ministry for Education, Science and Technology. “Ministry for Budget and Planning, Ministry for Finance, Ministry for Works, Housing and Transport“ are also included. The statement added that two new departments had been created, following the realignment of the ministries.

It said that former Ministry for Lands, Survey and Country Planning is being moved to the Governor’s Office as a department. “The former Ministry for Rural and Community Development becomes a department in the Deputy Governor’s Office. “Also affected by the restructuring is the Ministry for Information whose functions have now been decentralised,’’ the statement said.. It added that each ministry would henceforth have its own Public Relations Unit attached to the office of the chief executive.