Presidency confirms Adeosun’s replacement, Zainab Ahmed as substantive Minister of Finance

The Presidency on Wednesday, confirmed that Zainab Ahmed, who was appointed the supervising Minister of Finance last week, has fully taken charge of the ministry.

She has now relinquished her former portfolio as the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning.

Ahmed was last week appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the supervising Minister of Finance, following the resignation of Kemi Adeosun from the cabinet, over the allegation of parading forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed this to State House correspondents after the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Buhari at the Council Chamber Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to Adesina, “You know she was minister of State Budget and National Planning, she will relinquish that or she has relinquished that to go and oversee the finance ministry, so that is her status for now.”

Pressed on whether Zainab was a supervising minister, overseeing minister or acting Minister of Finance, he said, “It is a matter of nomenclature. Yes, but she is overseeing the ministry.”

Citing the statement announcing Zainab’s redeployment, Adesina stated: “Well, you know that statement was written in English and that statement says she will oversee the ministry of finance. Let’s leave it like that.

“I just told you she is no longer Minister of State budget and National Planning, she will be Minister of Finance. In fact, that was how she was addressed at Council.

“Don’t forget it is also a legal thing, if a minister is going to be appointed there are procedures that is why it is a deployment.”