In the midst of the nation’s socio-economic hardship, President Bola Tinubu needs to consider the possibility of running a lean cabinet. This is the view expressed by former CEO of NAHCO Free Trade Zone Mallam Baba Yusuf and APC Chieftain Mr. Femi Odeere who weighed in on the recent cabinet reshuffle by President Tinubu on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Friday.
“The notion that we should upgrade all functions to Ministerial is what brought us to where we are. It politicises the role and details the focus,” Yusuf said.
The Host, Laolu Akande said “I have always thought that there are some Ministries we don’t really need. For instance, I’m of the view that we don’t need Ministry of Information.”
Odeere said “I cannot agree with you more on the needless of some Federal Ministries, including the Ministry of Information.”
On whether the President should continue to function as Petroleum Minister, Yusuf said “I believe that the President should not distract himself with the portfolio of the Minister of Petroleum. The top four oil and gas producing countries in the world, their Presidents do not have business in terms of the volume and value. I would have loved to see the president running a lean cabinet. Why do we have two ministers trying to manage one sector and for one year they didn’t make impact?”
Mallam Baba Yusuf emphasized the importance of aligning key appointments with the nation’s pressing priorities: economic stability, social development, and investment. “If you look at the changes [from the recent cabinet reshuffle], the key points for Nigerians are: the economy, social development, and investment,” Yusuf said. He commended the President’s decision to reassign Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite from Minister for Investment and Trade to Minister of State for Finance, noting her extensive experience in the banking sector as essential for her new role.
Yusuf also highlighted Dr. Jumoke Oduwole’s appointment as Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, calling it a “fit for purpose” move. According to Yusuf, her expertise in investment strategies and foreign direct investment (FDI) will be instrumental in improving Nigeria’s economic prospects. “She’s well-placed to address key issues of investment and drive the impactful inflow of FDI,” he noted.
Adding his perspective, Mr. Femi Odeere urged Nigerians to take a more patient, open-minded view of Tinubu’s decisions. “In a political environment, decisions—no matter how well-intentioned—will always have detractors. But it’s important to recognize that President Tinubu has repeatedly demonstrated that he listens to the Nigerian people,” Odeere said. “The fact that he’s willing to adjust his cabinet without constitutional obligation is commendable.”
Both Yusuf and Odeere highlighted Tinubu’s reputation as a “talent hunter,” a characteristic they attributed to his success in past political roles, including his tenure as governor of Lagos State. “He is placing the right people in the right roles,” Odeere added, recalling Tinubu’s history of attracting top talent even if it surpassed his own experience. “This is exactly the headhunting talent that Nigeria needs in its leadership.”
Despite these favorable assessments, Yusuf voiced concerns over the growing size of Nigeria’s ministerial structure, which he believes has led to inefficiencies. He stressed that the tendency to elevate all government functions to ministerial positions has “politicized roles and diluted focus.” He added that while the recent reshuffle has aligned some roles more effectively, the cabinet would benefit from downsizing for optimal functionality.
Both experts expressed optimism that the cabinet reshuffle will refocus the government and drive progress in Tinubu’s administration. However, they advised the President to prioritize efficiency, flexibility, and cost-saving in his governance approach moving forward.