- Cabinet restructuring not in-depth enough – Nigerians
President Bola Tinubu recently returned to Abuja, after a two-week working vacation in the United Kingdom to announce a cabinet reshuffle.
While Nigerians continue to debate the prospects of the redeployed and appointed ministers, they said the removal of some underperforming ministers could only be justified by a clean sweep of other underachievers who have clung to power and influence as ministers.
In a statement after the 19th meeting of the Federal Executive Council on October 23, 2024, the Presidency took eight actions, including merging the newly approved regional development commissions and the existing Ministry of Niger Delta Development into the Ministry of Regional Development.
The Ministry of Sports Development was integrated into the National Sports Commission, while the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture were merged into the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy. Alongside ministerial changes, two appointments were approved: Sunday Dare as Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation and Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission.
The reshuffle resulted in 10 ministerial portfolio redesignations, the outright dismissal of five ministers, and the appointment of seven new ministers pending Senate approval.
Uju-Ken Ohanenye, Lola Ade-John, Tahir Mamman, and Abdullahi Gwarzo, the ministers of Women Affairs, Tourism, Education, and Housing and Urban Development respectively, were relieved of their duties.
Ten ministers were reassigned to new portfolios: Dr Yusuf Sunumu from Minister of State for Education to Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs; Dr Morufu Alausa from Minister of State for Health to Minister of Education; Bello Goronyo from Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation to Minister of State for Works; and the Minister of Niger Delta Development was redirected to oversee the newly created Ministry of Regional Development.
Additionally, the Minister of State for Steel Development, Uba Ahmadu was reassigned to Minister of State, Regional Development; John Enoh from Sports Development to Minister of State for Trade and Investment; Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim from Minister of State, Police Affairs to Women Affairs; Ayodele Olawande was promoted from Minister of State, Youth Development to Minister, Youth Development; and Salako Adeboye, from Minister of State, Environment to Minister of State, Health.
Seven new ministers were appointed, including Nentawe Yilwatda for Humanitarian Affairs, Muhammadu Dingyadi for Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole for Industry, Trade, and Investment, and Idi Maiha for the new Ministry of Livestock Development.
Cabinet restructuring not in-depth enough – Nigerians
Since the announcement of the new ministers, there have been mixed reactions from a cross-section of Nigerians.
While some Nigerians have commended the President for carrying out the rejigging, some others said they were not sure if those dropped were the reason Nigerians are going through hard times economy-wise.
Some are also saying that the ministers who occupy important portfolios and whose ministries directly impact the economy and the lives of Nigerians were left untouched.
Before the cabinet shakeup, many Nigerians believed that the majority of the ministers were not performing or working with the President to deliver his campaign promises amid the high inflation, hardship and other socio-economic challenges bedeviling the country.
“In the estimation of many Nigerians, only about five percent of the ministers were living up to expectations, while others appeared not to know or are overwhelmed about the enormous responsibility and duties that come with their office”
In view of the perceived failure of the current administration to meet the expectations of Nigerians and public outcry that government policies were not having direct impact on their lives, many Nigerians expected the President to carry out an in-depth cabinet reshuffle where more than half of the ministers would be replaced by new people.
In the estimation of many Nigerians, only about five percent of the ministers were living up to expectations, while others appeared not to know or are overwhelmed about the enormous responsibility and duties that come with their office.
They alleged that the President must have made the minor change to satisfy public agitations, and satisfy few individuals, rather than what can really have an impact on governance by his administration.
“After all the noise of cabinet change in the last few weeks, is this the only thing Tinubu can do? The cabinet reshuffle was overdue because a lot of the ministers were not performing. Me and you know those that are working. It is only about two or five percent of them that are really working.
“Look at the one in charge of defence, what is he doing? There are still killings every day in the North; it appears we are still in the era of Muhammadu Buhari.
“Nobody is safe anywhere, travel on the road you are putting your life on the line. I’m shocked,” a public affairs analyst, Sule Mustapha, said.
Mustapha further noted that the minor cabinet change was just politically-motivated; stressing that it can be seen that those close to the President were safe or not touched even though they are not performing.
The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s party, Ladipo Johnson, said the President would take the blame for the failure of anyone appointed into his cabinet since it was apparent that those close to him were protected.
Johnson said that by next year, Tinubu’s administration would be two years and there would be a proper assessment of his administration and the people he appointed.
“People say those close to him were protected, but he is the one that would take the blame for failure; I think by next year it would be midterm and we can do a proper assessment of his administration and the people he has appointed,” Johnson said.
Similarly, a political analyst, Adebayo Oladapo, said apart from appointing wrong individuals into positions, the 48 ministers appointed by the President were too many for the country in view of the perceived lean resource at the disposal of government.
He disagreed with the President over the scrapping of the Ministry of Sport and merging it with the National Sport Commission, noting that it may not give the desired impact.
“Some of the people appointed are just recycled; they had occupied government positions before and failed. One was even a former minister under Buhari and has been in several government positions in the past. Are you telling me we don’t have other Nigerians who can work and deliver?
“I also think the cabinet is too large; what is he doing with 50 ministers, when in America they have 18 state secretaries?”
The Deputy National Youth Leader of the People’s Democratic Party, Timothy Osadolor, described the move as a domestic arrangement deployed to distract the hungry masses.
He said, “How can you replace filthy rags with another set of filthy rags? Those are cosmetic arrangements to deceive Nigerians. The real issue is that the President is malfunctioning in administration.
“The Nigerian masses are hungry and dying. What they need is no changing of ministers and renaming of ministries. The people need security, jobs, power and above all, Nigerians need stability.”
The National Chairman, Social Democratic Party, Shehu Gabam, said that the government was paying lip service to Nigerians’ call for improvement.
“Merging ministries or taking out a few ministers wouldn’t bring any noticeable change. He needs to focus on changing the strategic sectors that need immediate action,” Gabam said.
Meanwhile some Nigerians and supporters of the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress said President Tinubu should be commended for this bold move to remove cabinet members who are not delivering on his campaign promises.
They said unlike the previous administration where some ministers were untouchable, the President by his action has shown that anyone can be removed if they did not sit-up.
A chieftain of the APC in Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju, welcomed the reshuffling of the cabinet by President Tinubu, saying it was long-overdue and would inject fresh ideas into governance.
Nwauju said in a statement over the weekend that he had joined his voice with those of other notable civil society groups and party leaders to demand a re-jigging of the federal cabinet, including demanding the merger of the Ministry of Police Affairs with the Ministry of Interior in consonance with the Steve Oronsaye report on restructuring of government parastatals and agencies to cut government expenses and make for greater efficiency and productivity.
A member of the APC in Lagos State, Micheal Ogunsholu, urged Nigerians not to be disappointed with last week’s cabinet reshuffle because there was still time for the President to change those that are not delivering in his administration.
“It is too early to be saying all that I’m hearing since the names were released last week; he is just about one year and a half in office; some of them would still go, if they don’t perform.
“This President is not afraid to remove any minister who is not working and he has shown that. Let us give him all the support he needs to implement these reforms and make Nigeria better for all,” Ogunsholu said.
Sack more ministers, Ndume tells Tinubu
The lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume, has called for the sacking of more slacking ministers from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Ndume, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said some other ministers who were not performing should be sacked.
The lawmaker applauded Tinubu’s recent cabinet restructuring, particularly the creation of the Ministry of Regional Development to oversee all regional commissions.
He said, “We saw President Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle last week, which was a masterstroke.
“More needs to be done as some ministers are still missing in action.
“I’m particularly pleased about establishing the Ministry of Regional Development to oversee regional commissions. The President’s decision to streamline ministries also exemplifies his commitment to reducing the cost of governance.”
He encouraged Tinubu to pursue his de-dollarisation policy further by positioning Nigeria to join BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
De-dollarisation is the process by which countries explore alternative methods for international trade and financial transactions to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar as the primary global reserve currency.
Ndume noted that the move would benefit Nigerian businesses, especially those importing from China, by reducing reliance on the dollar and easing pressure on the naira.
The senator also urged Tinubu to convene a national economic conference led by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the National Economic Adviser, and notable Nigerian economists to devise local solutions for the Federal Government.
Similarly, a former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Charles Udeogaranya faulted Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle, describing it as wrong changes that wouldn’t yield the desired results.
Udeogaranya, in a statement in Abuja, said the cabinet reshuffle was carried out in the wrong places, noting that it would not yield any impact on the economy.
“Ozekhome accused President Tinubu of sustaining the legacy of his predecessor in office, former president Muhammadu Buhari, with regard to non-compliance with the laws governing federal appointments to promote national unity and social justice”
“I am worried that President Tinubu’s economic team is not even brainstorming, needless to say. “I therefore charge Tinubu to overhaul, reshuffle, and inject new hands with good leadership skills into his economic team if he truly desires a better economy for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
New ministerial appointments breach Federal Character Principle, says Ozekhome
However, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, said that President Tinubu breached the Federal Character Principle with his new ministerial appointments.
Ozekhome accused President Tinubu of sustaining the legacy of his predecessor in office, former president Muhammadu Buhari, with regard to non-compliance with the laws governing federal appointments to promote national unity and social justice.
He, however, commended the President for bringing all the development commissions in the country under one ministry.
“My take on it is that the tokenism was too little and too late coming because many of the ministers have performed abysmally. Not only that, there appears to be serious issues concerning the appointment of some of the ministers in terms of Federal Character. Throughout the Buhari time, I critiqued Buhari for being prebendalism, cronyistic, sectionalistic and tribalistic in his appointments, which were tilted towards the North and towards Muslims. I do not think that President Tinubu has gone away from that method of appointments based on these same rejected factors.
“If you look at the new appointments, three new ministers are directly from Ogun State, the same state that already produced the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; meaning that in a country of 236 million people by United Nations projection, a country that has 36 states and 774 local councils, Ogun State, which is actually one of the smallest states in Nigeria, has four ministers while some big ones may just have a minister of state.
“This action of Mr President is contrary to the provisions of Section 14 (1) and Section 14 (3) of the constitution. They are also contrary to the provisions of Section 153 of the constitution and Section 7 (1) of the Third Schedule, Part One, to the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
“All these sections deal with Federal Character and the need for Nigeria to be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice; the need for the composition of the government of the federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs to be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria, thereby promoting national unity and also commanding national loyalty and ensuring that there shall be no predominant of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in the government or in any of its agencies. The new appointment list has wantonly breached these sections.
“Not only that, what I saw is a situation where even the surgical operation done to the ministries did not have any major positive impact. It was more like cosmetic window dressing. It is only in the ministry of Niger Delta that I believe that the President did a good job when he decided to bring together the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North East Development Commission, South East Development Commission and South West Development Commission under the Ministry of Regional Development. That means that all those parastatals which are themselves money guzzling and income draining pipes have been collapsed into just one ministry. Also, scrapping the ministry of sports and making sure that all its functions are transferred to the National Sports Commission is commendable.
“But all in all, there is really nothing to celebrate; Nigerians were expecting major changes. I believe that Nigerians have been disappointed. Nothing has changed. There is a difference between motion and progress,” Ozekhome said.
On his part, a public affairs analyst, Jide Ojo, said the impact of the new structure and members of the cabinet would largely depend on President Tinubu’s ability to give them the backing they need to succeed.
Ojo said, “In fairness to those who were sacked, I think we may not have been very fair to them given the fact that they were barely one year in office and to some people it’s like learning in school. Some may take a while to settle down while some may hit the ground running.
“To put the records straight, six ministers were sacked, not five; because Betta Edu has to be included in the list of those who were sacked. Up till last Wednesday, she was just on suspension and could have been recalled. Seven ministers were appointed, including the new Minister for Livestock Development.
“As to whether this would give a boost to the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, it all depends on the President himself. How much latitude will he give these ministers to work? Will he ensure that they are well resourced? You cannot make an omelet without breaking an egg. These people are not going to use their personal resources to fund the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) that he set for them. For instance, if a minister of works needs N1 trillion to make an impact and you give him N100 billion, he will just use that N100 billion and people will continue to complain that the roads are bad. Ditto the minister of health, minister of education and other ministries.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was going to go on strike before they bought time with this new committee that they set up to go and review the 2009 ASUU-FG Agreement. If you have the resources, there have been committees and reports on the ASUU situation. Even there was one 2022 report by the Prof. Nimi Briggs on the issue. So, to me, setting up another committee for three months is just buying time.
“Why I am making this allusion is that for there to be a boost and push in the Renewed Hope Agenda, the President must adequately ensure that these ministries and ministers are well resourced and there is transparency and accountability in his government. If there is a full complement of staff to these ministers, if funding is not an issue to them and the attention of the President is gotten by the ministers, I think they will perform
How Nigerians’ feedback shaped Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle — Presidency
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that Nigerians’ perception played a key role in President Bola Tinubu’s decision to dismiss five ministers from his cabinet.
Providing more details on the cabinet reshuffle, Onanuga explained that the decision to remove these ministers was based on public perception and empirical data.
According to Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, introduced a technological system that allowed Nigerians to assess the performance of the ministers.
“It wasn’t done arbitrarily. Hadiza Bala Usman brought in technology, asking Nigerians to rate the ministers. So, the removal of these ministers was based on empirical facts, shaped by the public’s perception. The scorecards were filled out by the people, and the President acted on those results,” Onanuga said in an interview on Wednesday night.
“It wasn’t just about meeting the President’s expectations but also the publics. A few weeks ago, during a cabinet meeting, the President urged the ministers to inform Nigerians of their accomplishments, because, according to him, there was a public perception that the government wasn’t performing. The government believed it was, but the ministers weren’t effectively communicating their work,” he added.
Onanuga further mentioned that in addition to dismissing the ministers, the administration is working to reduce the cost of governance.
“The President will soon announce measures to reduce government expenditure, starting with the ministers. I don’t want to pre-empt the details, but the cuts will be significant to demonstrate the government’s seriousness in reducing the cost of governance.”
“The government is aware of what’s required to address the country’s challenges. It’s not about the size of the government, but about having many competent hands to drive its agenda. You will hear announcements soon about how the government plans to cut the cost of running its affairs,” he concluded.
