As President Bola Tinubu marked his one year in office on May 29, 2024, with projects commissioning in Lagos and Abuja, his administration’s performance has been under scrutiny.
Amidst the assessments, a recurring piece of advice from critics and supporters alike is the need for a cabinet reshuffle to optimize his government’s potential.
Professor Kingsley Moghalu, a former presidential candidate, and Iyiola Omisore, former deputy governor of Osun State and ex-National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are among those advocating for a cabinet revamp.
“President Tinubu needs to revamp his cabinet… Removing the subsidy is just one aspect of the reform. There are other things to do,” Moghalu said.
During his swearing-in ceremony on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu pledged to assess his ministers’ performance using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
He has repeatedly warned underperforming ministers of possible dismissal. However, many believe these promises are overdue, as groups and individuals evaluate the 47 ministers’ performance since assuming office in August 2023.
Fair Ratings?
Recently, the Emerging Leaders Forum of Nigeria (ELFON) and Economic Credentials (EC) released lists of performing ministers, including Nyesom Wike (Federal Capital Territory), Wale Edun (Finance and Economy), Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Interior), Dele Alake (Solid Minerals), Festus Keyamo (Aviation and Aerospace Development), Bosun Tijani (Communication, Innovations, and Digital Economy), and David Nweze Umahi (Works).
However, some ministers are seen as not pulling thier weights enough, notably Adebayo Adelabu (Power), whose handling of the ministry has drawn criticism.
Assigning ministers to unrelated portfolios has raised concerns about the government’s effectiveness.
President Tinubu’s supporters cite his successful tenure as Lagos governor, where he assigned performers to critical offices. While he has not publicly reacted to the calls for a reshuffle, observers believe he may be working on it, given his reputation as a listener and his warnings to underperforming ministers.
According to sources close to the presidency, a cabinet reshuffle is imminent, with underperforming ministers likely to be reassigned or replaced.
This move could inject new life into President Tinubu’s government, addressing the concerns of Nigerians and aligning his administration with his campaign promises.
No room for laziness
As aptly captured by public affairs analysts, Simon Reef Musa in his recent column, for a government that is expected to turn things around for citizens, after the years of cankerworms as seen in the last eight years, refusal by President Tinubu to review his team may send a wrong signal of unseriousness on the part of the former Lagos governor.
He said “After 12 months, it is obviously clear that there are certain people that need to be uprooted for the system to breathe. While there are ministers that are doing their utmost best to reform the system and make things work, institutional impediments, most times, have permanently vitiated them.”
