In a bid to strengthen his administration, President Bola Tinubu is reportedly preparing to shake up his cabinet, removing ministers who have been deemed underperforming.
This move comes in response to mounting pressure from both within his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and external stakeholders who have expressed concerns over the effectiveness of some ministers.
Last year, President Tinubu established the Result and Delivery Unit, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Mrs. Hadiza Bala-Usman.
The unit was tasked with monitoring and assessing the performance of ministers and top government officials. The President made it clear that any official who failed to meet expectations would be dismissed.
Recently, President Tinubu replaced the directors-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), following the resignation of their respective heads. This action has fueled speculation that a broader cabinet reshuffle is imminent.
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Sources within the Presidency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, have confirmed that some ministers are likely to be dismissed, while others may be reassigned to different ministries.
The focus, according to insiders, will be on appointing individuals who can bring greater capacity and value to the administration.
“There is a general consensus among his close associates that the President needs a stronger cabinet to effectively implement his policies. Some ministers will be replaced, and new faces will be brought in who are better equipped to deliver the results that the administration requires,” a source disclosed.
The urgency of the situation has been underscored by recent criticism from international observers, including an editorial by the Financial Times, which highlighted the weaknesses in Tinubu’s cabinet.
While the President has been praised for his bold reforms, the effectiveness of his government has been hampered by a cabinet that some argue lacks the necessary energy and expertise.
Within the opposition, however, there is skepticism about the impact of any potential reshuffle. Yunusa Tanko, the campaign spokesman for former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, dismissed the idea that a cabinet change would bring about significant improvements. Instead, he emphasized the need for broader electoral reforms as a more pressing concern.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), attributed the underperformance of the ministers to what he described as the flawed foundation of Tinubu’s presidency.
According to Abdullahi, even a complete overhaul of the cabinet would not remedy the challenges facing the administration.
Similarly, Peter Ameh, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), cautioned Tinubu against repeating the mistakes of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who retained the same ministers throughout his tenure.
Ameh argued that a responsible government would have dismissed the underperforming ministers long ago.
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Debo Adeniran, the Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, echoed these sentiments, calling for a drastic reduction in the number of ministers and a focus on merging ministries with overlapping functions.
Adeniran criticized some of Tinubu’s appointments as mere “jobs for the boys” and urged the President to implement the recommendations of the Steve Orosanye report to streamline government operations.
Despite these calls for action, Abiodun Bamgboye, Secretary of the Joint Action Front, argued that the real issue lies not with the ministers themselves, but with the anti-people policies of the Tinubu administration.
He suggested that even if the President were to replace his entire cabinet, the underlying policy direction would continue to yield poor results.
Economic experts, including Aliyu Ilias, have also weighed in on the situation, advocating for a more accountable and streamlined government.
Ilias argued that reducing the number of ministers and holding them to higher standards could improve governance and enhance the administration’s ability to deliver on its promises.
As the nation waits to see how President Tinubu will respond to these pressures, one thing is clear: the next steps he takes will be critical in shaping the future of his administration and determining its ability to meet the expectations of the Nigerian people.