Tension is rising among some Nigerian ministers as President Bola Tinubu prepares to announce significant changes to his cabinet. Sources close to the presidency indicate that the president has finalized the list of ministers he intends to keep and those he plans to dismiss.
The announcement is expected soon, with many anticipating that it could come as early as Thursday night. This reshuffle follows mounting pressure from both the public and members of Tinubu’s political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), who are calling for greater accountability amid the nation’s economic challenges.
The urgency of this cabinet reshuffle has been underscored by recent nationwide protests that erupted in August due to economic hardship affecting millions of Nigerians. Many citizens have voiced their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the economy, leading to intensified scrutiny of the performance of various ministers. The president has faced increasing calls to act against those who have not met expectations, particularly as the country grapples with soaring inflation and rising unemployment.
Despite warnings from President Tinubu regarding the consequences of underperformance, his cabinet has remained largely unchanged since its formation in August 2023. The only significant action taken was the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, back in January 2024. This lack of action on the part of the president has raised questions about his commitment to holding ministers accountable for their performance.
At a three-day retreat for cabinet members and presidential aides held in November 2023, President Tinubu announced the establishment of a Central Delivery Coordination Unit, which is tasked with monitoring the performance of ministers and other top government officials. The unit, led by his Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, is expected to deliver periodic performance reports to the president. This data will play a critical role in determining which ministers will remain in their positions and which will be let go.
“If you are performing, nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If no performance, you leave us. No one is an island and the buck stops on my desk,” the president told participants at the retreat, clearly indicating his intent to prioritize performance and accountability.
As the one-year anniversary of Tinubu’s cabinet approaches, speculation has been rife about an impending reshuffle. However, officials have remained tight-lipped about the exact timing and details. It is understood that the reshuffle will likely involve not only the removal of underperforming ministers but also a reorganization of certain ministries. Some portfolios, such as the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, may be abolished altogether, while others could be merged or restructured to create a more effective government.
Sources familiar with the situation told PUNCH that the list of changes was expected to be released on Thursday, but President Tinubu decided to take additional time to review it. “We are just waiting for the go-ahead,” said one official who requested anonymity. “All I know is that we are waiting for him to send the new names of those he wants to drop and those he wants to appoint.” The official indicated that the president wanted to “sleep on it” for a while longer, hinting that he might still be considering changes to some names on the list.
As the days go by, speculation continues to grow regarding the potential new appointments and removals. One source expressed surprise that the announcement did not come as expected, noting that the list was almost finalized. “I’m surprised the list did not come out yesterday. That thing is almost finalized already,” the source said.
In addition to the anticipation surrounding the reshuffle, rumors have surfaced regarding lobbyists attempting to meet with President Tinubu during his current trip to the United Kingdom. However, officials within the presidency have dismissed these claims. “That’s not true,” one source stated. “You know there would be speculations all over the place. Do they know where he is? Even if they know where he is, can they access him?” This statement reflects an effort to clarify the situation and to reinforce that the president is likely preoccupied with important matters during his working leave.
President Tinubu’s leave began on October 2 and will last until October 16. The presidency previously confirmed that the cabinet reshuffle would be informed by performance data gathered by the Central Delivery Coordination Unit in recent months.
