By Dipo Olowookere
Mrs Zainab Ahmed has now been confirmed as the substantive Minister of Finance, Mr Femi Adesina, spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, has disclosed.
Addressing newsmen yesterday at the close of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Abuja, Mr Adesina said Mrs Ahmed will no longer function as the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, where she was moved last Friday to oversee affairs of the Ministry of Finance by the President after the resignation of Mrs Kemi Adeosun, over her certificate scandal.
According to the President’s mouthpiece, Mrs Ahmed was addressed as Minister of Finance during the Wednesday’s FEC meeting presided over by Mr Buhari.
“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.
“What you call her is a matter of nomenclature but if she is overseeing the ministry, then she is. But note that she is no longer Minister of State Budget and National Planning for now until anything contrary happens. But for now, she is in charge of the Ministry of Finance,” Mr Adesina said.
He said further that, “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.”
