The Interim National Government was the government of
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
following the
crisis of the Third Republic after General
Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (born 17 August, 1941) is a retired Nigerian Army general and politician. He served as military president of Nigeria from 1985 until his resignation in 1993. He rose through the ranks to serve from 1984 to 1985 as C ...
handed power over to
Ernest Shonekan
Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (9 May 1936 – 11 January 2022) was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. He was titled Abese of Egbaland from ...
as interim Head of State on 27 August 1993. The largely powerless government was dissolved when General
Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...
seized power on 17 November 1993.
History
12 June 1993 presidential election was won by
Moshood Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , also known as M. K. O. Abiola (24 August 1937 – 7 July 1998) was a Nigerian businessman, publisher, and politician. He was the Aare Ona Kankafo XIV of Yorubaland and an aristocrat of the Egba clan.
M.K. ...
.
General Babangida annulled the election.
This led to rioting, particularly in the south, which was harshly suppressed.
Babangida announced that he would step down on 26 August 1993, and handed over to Ernest Shonekan as head of the Interim National Government (ING) on 27 August 1993.
Shoenkan had a degree in law, had studied at the Harvard Business School in the US, and had held senior management positions in various companies. He was an
Oloye
Oba means ″ruler″ in the Yoruba and
Bini languages of West Africa. Kings in Yorubaland, a region which is in the modern republics of Benin, Nigeria and Togo, make use of it as a pre-nominal
honorific. Examples of Yoruba bearers include Oba ...
of the
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
and had been president of Babangida's Transitional Council. He was an unelected technocrat chosen in a deal between Babangida and political leaders, and his appointment was poorly received by the press and the public.
Shonekan appointed
Moshood Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , also known as M. K. O. Abiola (24 August 1937 – 7 July 1998) was a Nigerian businessman, publisher, and politician. He was the Aare Ona Kankafo XIV of Yorubaland and an aristocrat of the Egba clan.
M.K. ...
as his vice-president.
General
Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...
was made secretary of defence in the cabinet.
Under the ING the country suffered runaway inflation and saw strikes by workers in various sectors.
Most foreign investors withdrew apart from oil companies.
Shonekan made efforts to have government debt forgiven. He drew up a timetable for return to democracy and for withdrawal of Nigeria's contingent from the
ECOMOG
The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) was a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ECOMOG was a formal arrangement for separate armies to work ...
preackeeping force in Liberia. He also launched an audit of the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
NNPC Limited is a for profit oil company in Nigeria. Formerly a government-owned corporation, it was transformed from a corporation to a limited liability company in July 2022. NNPC Limited is the only entity licensed to operate in the country' ...
, the largest oil company, and tried to restore civil liberties.
Shonekan managed to remove laws that allowed
arbitrary arrest
Arbitrary arrest and arbitrary detention are the arrest or detention of an individual in a case in which there is no likelihood or evidence that they committed a crime against legal statute, or in which there has been no proper due process of ...
and confiscation of property, promoted press freedom, obtained the release of some political prisoners and made reforms to the corrupt public services and state-owned companies.
No clear process was given for holding fresh elections, and there was general political uncertainty under the Shonekan government.
The ING faced media campaigns against the delay in returning to democracy and the continued involvement of the military in politics.
The government was opposed by pro-democracy activists, civil society organisations, labour unions and students.
The Lagos high court nullified Shonekan's appointment and called for Abiola to be sworn in as the elected candidate for the presidency.
General Sani Abacha forced Shonekan to resign on 17 November 1993, and as the most senior military officer took over as head of state.
Ministers
The ministers initially announced were:
*Vice-President:
Moshood Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , also known as M. K. O. Abiola (24 August 1937 – 7 July 1998) was a Nigerian businessman, publisher, and politician. He was the Aare Ona Kankafo XIV of Yorubaland and an aristocrat of the Egba clan.
M.K. ...
*Defense: General
Aliyu Mohammed Gusau
Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (born 18 May 1943) is a Nigerian general and statesman. He has held several high level national security, military and intelligence offices, and has participated in several military coups, playing a central role in foundin ...
*Abuja: Lieutenant General
Gado Nasko
*Agriculture:
Jerry Gana
Jerry Gana, is a Nigerian scholar, politician and one time senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1983 then Director for the Directorate of Food, Roads and Infrastructure (DFRRI).He was the director of the Mass Mobilization for Social J ...
*Communications:
Dapo Sarumi
Dapo Sarumi is a Nigerian politician from Lagos State. He was the former minister for Information. In 1991, he contested the Social Democratic Party (Nigeria) gubernatorial primary under the People's Front faction of the SDP led by Shehu Musa Yar' ...
*Education:
Abraham Imogie
*Energy:
Donald Etiebet
Chief Donald Dick Etiebet (1934 - 21 July 2015) was a Nigerian politician who was a senator during the Nigerian Second Republic (1979 - 1983).
He was then elected governor of Cross River State with the support of the then Senate president Josep ...
*Finance:
Aminu Saleh
Aminu Saleh (born 1933 – 22 July 2015) was a Nigerian administrator, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former Finance Minister of Nigeria, and permanent secretary in the Nigerian ministry of Defense. He became the chairman o ...
*Foreign Affairs: Chief
Matthew Mbu
Matthew Tawo Mbu (20 November 1929 – 6 February 2012) was a Nigerian lawyer, politician, diplomat, and a permanent fixture in Nigerian political affairs for more than fifty years.
Early life
Mbu was born in Okundi, Cross River State. He rece ...
*Health and Human Service:
Adelusi Adeluyi
Adelusi Adeluyi (born 2 August 1940) is a Nigerian pharmacist, legal practitioner and former Minister of Health, appointed in 1993 by Ernest Shonekan
Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (9 May 1936 – 11 January 2022) was a Nigeri ...
*Industry: Chief
Ignatius Kogbara Ignatius is a male given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:
Given name
Religious
* Ignatius of Antioch (35–108), saint and martyr, Apostolic Father, early Christian bishop
* Ignatius of Constantinople (797–877), Cath ...
*Information:
Uche Chukwumerije
Uche Chukwumerije , (11 January 1939 – 19 April 2015), popularly referred to as "Comrade Chukwumerije" because of his lifelong socialist beliefs, was elected a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in April 2003, representing Abia North ...
*Interior:
E. S. Yusufu
*Labor:
Bola Afonja
Bola Afonja (born 21 February 1943) is a Nigerian politician. He was Minister of Labour under Ernest Shonekan, and was once a member of the board of trustees of the All Nigeria Peoples Party
The All Nigeria Peoples Party ( abbr. ANPP) was a ...
*Power:
Hassan Adamu Hassan, Hasan, Hassane, Haasana, Hassaan, Asan, Hassun, Hasun, Hassen, Hasson or Hasani may refer to:
People
*Hassan (given name), Arabic given name and a list of people with that given name
*Hassan (surname), Arabic, Jewish, Irish, and Scottis ...
*Trade:
Kuforiji Olubi Chief Bola Kuforiji-Olubi (September 28, 1936 – December 3, 2016) was a Nigerian traditional aristocrat, banker and federal minister of commerce. In addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles, she held that of the Otunba Ayora of Ijebu ...
*Transportation:
Bashir Dalhatu
Bashir Dalhatu (born 12 November 1949), titled Wazirin Dutse, is a Nigerian aristocrat and statesman.
Biography
Bashir Dalhatu was born in Dutse on November 12, 1949. He attended Rumfa College, Kano from 1963 to 1967. In 1972, he received a ba ...
The final list of members was:
*Head of State: Chief
Ernest Shonekan
Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (9 May 1936 – 11 January 2022) was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. He was titled Abese of Egbaland from ...
*Defence Secretary: Gen.
Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...
*Secretary of State (Defence): Alhaji
Umaru Baba Umaru is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
* Umaru bin Ali (c. 1824 – 1891), Sultan of Sokoto
* Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (born 1952), Nigerian businessman elected Governor of Nasarawa State, Nigeria
*Umaru Argungu (born 1959), Sen ...
*Agriculture/Natural Resources: Prof.
Jerry Gana
Jerry Gana, is a Nigerian scholar, politician and one time senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1983 then Director for the Directorate of Food, Roads and Infrastructure (DFRRI).He was the director of the Mass Mobilization for Social J ...
*Commerce/Tourism: Chief Mrs.
Kuforiji Olubi Chief Bola Kuforiji-Olubi (September 28, 1936 – December 3, 2016) was a Nigerian traditional aristocrat, banker and federal minister of commerce. In addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles, she held that of the Otunba Ayora of Ijebu ...
*Communications: Chief
Dapo Sarumi
Dapo Sarumi is a Nigerian politician from Lagos State. He was the former minister for Information. In 1991, he contested the Social Democratic Party (Nigeria) gubernatorial primary under the People's Front faction of the SDP led by Shehu Musa Yar' ...
*Education and Youth Development: Prof.
Abraham Imogie
*Finance: Alhaji
Aminu Saleh
Aminu Saleh (born 1933 – 22 July 2015) was a Nigerian administrator, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former Finance Minister of Nigeria, and permanent secretary in the Nigerian ministry of Defense. He became the chairman o ...
*FCT Administrator: Maj.Gen.
Gado Nasko
*Foreign Affairs: Chief
Matthew Mbu
Matthew Tawo Mbu (20 November 1929 – 6 February 2012) was a Nigerian lawyer, politician, diplomat, and a permanent fixture in Nigerian political affairs for more than fifty years.
Early life
Mbu was born in Okundi, Cross River State. He rece ...
*Secretary of State (Foreign): Alhaji
Saidu Isa
Saidu is a town in Lhuntse District in northeastern Bhutan
Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, be ...
*Health and Human Services: Prince
Adelusi Adeluyi
Adelusi Adeluyi (born 2 August 1940) is a Nigerian pharmacist, legal practitioner and former Minister of Health, appointed in 1993 by Ernest Shonekan
Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (9 May 1936 – 11 January 2022) was a Nigeri ...
*Internal Affairs: Chief
Ezekiel Yesufu
Ezekiel (; he, יְחֶזְקֵאל ''Yəḥezqēʾl'' ; in the Septuagint written in grc-koi, Ἰεζεκιήλ ) is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible.
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Ezekiel is ackn ...
*Industries: Chief
Ignatius Kogbara Ignatius is a male given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:
Given name
Religious
* Ignatius of Antioch (35–108), saint and martyr, Apostolic Father, early Christian bishop
* Ignatius of Constantinople (797–877), Cath ...
*Information and Culture: Mr.
Uche Chukwumerije
Uche Chukwumerije , (11 January 1939 – 19 April 2015), popularly referred to as "Comrade Chukwumerije" because of his lifelong socialist beliefs, was elected a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in April 2003, representing Abia North ...
*Justice: Mr.
Clement Akpamgbo
Clement Akpamgbo, SAN was a Nigerian lawyer who was Attorney-General of the federation between 1991 and 1993 during Nigeria's failed transition from military to democratic government. Before his ministerial appointment, he was the president of th ...
SAN
*Petroleum/Mineral Resources: Chief
Donald Etiebet
Chief Donald Dick Etiebet (1934 - 21 July 2015) was a Nigerian politician who was a senator during the Nigerian Second Republic (1979 - 1983).
He was then elected governor of Cross River State with the support of the then Senate president Josep ...
*Secretary of State (Petroleum): Alhaji
Ibrahim Al
*Labour and Productivity: Prince
Bola Afonja
Bola Afonja (born 21 February 1943) is a Nigerian politician. He was Minister of Labour under Ernest Shonekan, and was once a member of the board of trustees of the All Nigeria Peoples Party
The All Nigeria Peoples Party ( abbr. ANPP) was a ...
*Power and Steel: Alhaji
Hassan Adamu Hassan, Hasan, Hassane, Haasana, Hassaan, Asan, Hassun, Hasun, Hassen, Hasson or Hasani may refer to:
People
*Hassan (given name), Arabic given name and a list of people with that given name
*Hassan (surname), Arabic, Jewish, Irish, and Scottis ...
*Secretary of State (Power and Steel): Alhaji
Oladunni Ayandipo
*Police Affairs: Alhaji
Abdullahi Mahmud Koki
*Science and Technology: Prof.
Bartholomew Nnaji
*Transport/Aviation: Alh.
Bashir Dalhatu
Bashir Dalhatu (born 12 November 1949), titled Wazirin Dutse, is a Nigerian aristocrat and statesman.
Biography
Bashir Dalhatu was born in Dutse on November 12, 1949. He attended Rumfa College, Kano from 1963 to 1967. In 1972, he received a ba ...
*Water/Rural Development: Alhaji
Isa Mohammed
*Works/Housing: Mr.
Barnabas Gemade
Barnabas Andyar Iyorhyer Gemade (born 4 September 1948) is a Nigerian politician, formerly National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), who was elected Senator for the Benue North East constituency of Benue State, Nigeria on 9 Apr ...
*Chairman, National Planning Commission: Mr.
Isaac Aluko-Olokun
*Establishment/Management Services: Mr.
Innocent Nwoga
*States and Local Government Affairs: Alhaji
Sule Unguwar Alkali
*Secretary to Interim National Government: Alhaji
Mustapha Umara
*National Assembly Liaison Officer: Alhaji
Abba Dabo (House of Representatives)
*National Assembly Liaison Officer: Dr.
Samuel Ogboghodo (House of Representatives)
*National Assembly Liaison Officer: Senator
George Hoomkwap (Senate)
Notes
Sources
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*
{{Cabinet ministries of Nigeria
Ernest Shonekan
Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (9 May 1936 – 11 January 2022) was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. He was titled Abese of Egbaland from ...
1993 in Nigeria