Some underperforming ministers may be relieved of their appointments as President Bola Tinubu moves to reshuffle his cabinet.
This decision comes after increasing pressure from both within and outside his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), other stakeholders and Nigerians to remove inactive ministers.
Last year, Tinubu established the Result and Delivery Unit, led by Mrs. Hadiza Bala-Usman, Special Adviser on Policy Coordination.
The unit was created to assess the performance of ministers and other top officials.
The President had warned that anyone failing to meet expectations would be sacked.
Critics have voiced concerns that many current ministers were appointed based on political connections rather than merit.
Before the cabinet was announced, there were hopes that it would be made up mostly of technocrats, further fueling dissatisfaction among observers.
Recall that Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had recently hinted at the possible cabinet reshuffle, where those found not to be active and adding value to the Renewed Hope Agenda, will be shown the exit door.
According to Vanguard, the President is going to rejig his cabinet to bring fresh hands that will help to translate his Renewed Hope Agenda into a complete reality.
Guardian reports that the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, may be replaced, with Babatunde Fashola, former Minister of Works and Housing, being considered as a likely candidate.
If Fashola declines, the President’s current Principal Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, could fill the role.
Additionally, Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance, is expected to get a junior minister, likely Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee.
Some ministries, like the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, may be scrapped due to issues of corruption.
Other ministers, including Bosun Tijani (Communications), Iziak Adekunle Salako (Environment), Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Economic Planning), and Doris Anite (Trade and Investment), may also be affected by the reshuffle.
Some ministers might be reassigned, while others could be dismissed.
Reports suggest that a former minister from the Buhari administration could return to the cabinet.
A final announcement is expected soon, with today’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting possibly serving as a farewell for some ministers.
Meanwhile, there are some ministers who have been very quiet since their appointment in August 2023.
Presidential aide, Otega Ogara revealed in September that Tinubu had instructed his ministers to actively promote the accomplishments of his administration.
During a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, he urged his ministers not to shy away from the media and to make efforts to communicate their achievements.
“Some of them have been media shy, television shy, radio shy, and he wants them to overcome all that and go out there and speak about what they have been doing.
“Because the feeling out there is that government is not doing enough, and the government has been doing a lot. It is up to them to go out there and blow their own trumpet. They should go out there and talk about what their ministries have been doing”, Otega Ogara said.
Here is the list of ministers who are seen to have been quiet since their appointment:
– Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Minister of Environment)
– Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure (Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory)
– Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo (Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development)
– Uche Nnaji (Minister of Science and Technology)
– Gboyega Oyetola (Minister of Marine and Blue Economy)
– Abubakar Momoh (Minister of Niger Delta Development)
– Ibrahim Geidam/ Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim (Ministers of Police Affairs)
– Shuaibu Audu (Minister of Steel Development)
– Lola Ade-John (Minister of Tourism)
– Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali (Minister of Transportation)
– Joseph Utsev/ Bello Muhammad Goronyo (Ministers of Water Resources)
While these ministers may have been working diligently behind the scenes, the president has stressed the importance of publicly showcasing their achievements through the media.
This will allow Nigerians see that they are indeed making progress and delivering results.
