Tinubu’s Cabinet Reshuffle Looms Amid Pressure to Improve Governance
There are strong signs that President Bola Tinubu is preparing to undertake a significant cabinet reshuffle aimed at replacing underperforming ministers. This move comes as Tinubu faces growing pressure from within his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the broader Nigerian public to make sweeping changes in his government. Many ministers have been criticized for their lack of visible action, raising concerns about their effectiveness in delivering on the promises of the administration.
President Tinubu had previously established a dedicated unit, known as the Result and Delivery Unit, to evaluate the performance of ministers and senior government officials. Led by Mrs. Hadiza Bala-Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, this unit was tasked with ensuring that ministers meet their targets. Tinubu made it clear that ministers who fail to perform up to expectations would be shown the door.
Last week, the President made his first major personnel changes by replacing the directors-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS). These changes followed the resignation of the agency heads, signaling that Tinubu is ready to take decisive action to strengthen his team. According to sources within the Presidency, a cabinet reshuffle is now imminent, with several ministers expected to be removed from their posts.
Officials privy to the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that Tinubu plans to dismiss some ministers, while others will be reassigned to different ministries. The aim is to enhance the overall effectiveness of the government by placing the right people in the right positions. While the identities of the ministers likely to be affected have not been disclosed, it is clear that Tinubu is focused on building a cabinet that can deliver results.
One insider noted, “What I can tell you is that some ministers will be let go. A few will swap positions, and new faces will be introduced. The President is now prioritizing capacity and competence; he wants people who can contribute meaningfully to his administration.”
Another source emphasized that Tinubu’s close allies believe the President needs a stronger team to effectively implement his policies. The source explained, “There is a general consensus among his close associates that the current cabinet is not strong enough. While the President has announced bold reforms, the effectiveness of those reforms depends on the ability of his ministers to execute them. The capacity of the cabinet members and agency heads plays a crucial role in achieving the desired outcomes.”
This sentiment was echoed by a recent editorial in the Financial Times, which criticized Tinubu’s cabinet as being too weak to deliver on the administration’s ambitious reforms. The editorial argued that while Tinubu has made significant policy decisions, his government is struggling to implement them due to the lack of competence among his ministers. This has led to a perception that the government is faltering, despite its good intentions.
The source further stressed, “If the past year has been underwhelming, the President cannot afford to lose another year. The next twelve months are critical and will define his administration. This cabinet reshuffle is essential to ensuring that the government can achieve its goals.”
Meanwhile, opposition parties have expressed skepticism about the potential benefits of a cabinet reshuffle. Yunusa Tanko, the spokesperson for the Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, stated that the party is more concerned with electoral reforms than with changes in Tinubu’s cabinet. Tanko argued, “We are not really interested in whether Tinubu changes or sacks his ministers. Our priority is on improving the electoral process. A reshuffle is just a strategy to consolidate power, especially with an eye on the 2027 elections. If Tinubu is serious about governance, he should focus on making his cabinet more effective.”
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Abdullahi, attributed the poor performance of the ministers to what he described as Tinubu’s lack of empathy for the Nigerian people. Abdullahi remarked, “Changing the cabinet won’t make much of a difference. When you acquire power through questionable means, it takes extraordinary effort to govern effectively. The foundation of this administration is flawed, and that’s the root of the problem.”
Peter Ameh, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), warned Tinubu against repeating the mistakes of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who kept his ministers in place for eight years despite widespread criticism. Ameh noted, “We are not surprised by the failure of Tinubu’s ministers. A responsible government would have dismissed them long ago. If Tinubu wants to avoid the same pitfalls as Buhari, he should not hesitate to make necessary changes now.”
Debo Adeniran, the Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, echoed these concerns. Adeniran argued that fewer than 15 of Tinubu’s ministers are meeting the expectations of the Nigerian public. He urged the President to “weed out” underperforming ministers and merge ministries and agencies that perform overlapping functions.
Adeniran also criticized some of Tinubu’s appointments, describing them as “jobs for the boys” rather than based on merit. He called on Tinubu to implement the recommendations of the Steve Orosanye report, which advocated for reducing the size and cost of government. “Most of the ministers are not performing; they are just making noise without understanding their roles. From our assessment, less than 15 out of 48 ministers are delivering results. The President needs to remove at least two-thirds of his cabinet to stabilize his administration and focus the remaining ministers on their tasks. Merging ministries could also help streamline operations,” Adeniran said.
Abiodun Bamgboye, the Secretary of the Joint Action Front, attributed the poor performance of the ministers to what he called the “anti-people” policies of the Tinubu administration. Bamgboye argued that even if Tinubu replaced the ministers with more competent individuals, they would still struggle to succeed due to the flawed policies being implemented. He stated, “The problem is not just with the ministers but with the economic policies of this regime. No matter who is in charge, if the policies are not people-centered, they will fail.”
Economic expert Aliyu Ilias added that reducing the number of ministers and holding them accountable could improve governance. Ilias pointed out that maintaining a large cabinet has not translated into better performance. He said, “We haven’t seen any significant reduction in the number of ministers, which is unfortunate. A smaller, more accountable team would likely perform better. Sacking underperforming ministers could serve as a wake-up call to others and ensure that the government remains focused on delivering results.”
As President Tinubu prepares to reshuffle his cabinet, the pressure is mounting for him to make the right decisions. The effectiveness of his administration in the coming year will largely depend on the choices he makes now. With the public and political observers closely watching, the stakes could not be higher for Tinubu and his government.