The Presidency has explained that President Bola Tinubu’s directive for ministers to hold regular press briefings was prompted by the failure of some cabinet members to provide updates on their work.
On Tuesday, the Federal Government announced that ministers would start periodic press conferences next week to inform Nigerians about government policies and activities. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that Tinubu had instructed all ministers to engage with the public more frequently to ensure transparency and accountability.
Idris noted that the briefings would serve as a platform for ministers to share progress in their respective ministries, address public concerns, and counter misinformation.
“In 2024, we hosted 25 ministers at these briefings and reached millions of people in Nigeria and abroad through traditional and digital media platforms,” Idris said.
He added, “This year, 2025, is a year of consolidation—a year for building on the gains we have seen in the first 19 months of the administration.”
The announcement has sparked speculation that the directive could be a strategy to evaluate ministerial performance, possibly leading to a cabinet reshuffle ahead of Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.
Before marking his first year as President, Tinubu had ordered all 47 ministers to publicly present their performance reports. The low-key celebration in May featured sectoral media briefings where ministers outlined their achievements.
Despite this, when Tinubu reshuffled his cabinet in October, most ministers kept their positions, with only five being removed and ten others reassigned to different portfolios.
As Tinubu’s second anniversary nears, some analysts believe the renewed directive signals another round of performance reviews, possibly paving the way for further changes in the cabinet.
However, speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed such claims, insisting that the directive was simply about reinforcing accountability.
“The President has always insisted that ministers should render accounts. People want to know what they have been doing, but not all of them have been doing so,” Onanuga said.
“By asking them now to come forward and speak, the Information Minister is merely implementing what the President has consistently noted—that the public deserves to know what each minister is doing. This has nothing to do with a reassessment or a cabinet reshuffle. It is simply about ensuring that all ministers provide periodic updates on their activities.”
