Ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s expected cabinet reshuffle, many ministers and their political sponsors have ramped up efforts to retain their positions, according to reports from PARALLEL NEWS TV.
On Wednesday, the Presidency confirmed that President Tinubu would soon adjust his cabinet.
As this unfolds, presidential aides disclosed that ministers have been actively seeking favor from the President to avoid removal. One aide remarked that it’s common for ministers to rely on their political backers to influence the President, but the final decision will ultimately be made based on what is best for the country.
Sources suggest that some ministers, fearing dismissal, have increased lobbying efforts through the President’s close allies, including his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, seeking leniency.
Another senior official expressed concern about the intense lobbying and pressure being placed on Tinubu by those hoping to secure their positions. The official revealed that due to this pressure, the Chief of Staff recommended the President take a brief break in the United Kingdom after the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit to allow the lobbying to ease.
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Reports suggest that the cabinet reshuffle might be announced by October 1, although this date has not been independently verified. Presidential advisers Bayo Onanuga and O’Tega Ogra stated that the reshuffle would be based on performance reviews submitted over the past few months.
Onanuga emphasized that while the President intends to reorganize his cabinet, no specific timeline has been set. He confirmed that ministers had been instructed to speak more publicly about the administration’s efforts to counter perceptions of underperformance. The President wants his ministers to highlight their achievements to combat public dissatisfaction with the government’s performance.
Ogra added that the reshuffle would be evidence-based, drawn from performance reports prepared by the Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman. These reports, along with quarterly reviews, will influence the President’s decisions.
Pressure has been mounting from within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other quarters for Tinubu to remove underperforming ministers.
A source revealed that some ministries might be merged or split, with underperforming ministers likely to be dismissed.
Earlier, Tinubu set up the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, headed by Bala-Usman, to track the performance of ministers. The results from these assessments will determine which ministers stay or leave.
Despite high expectations, Nigerians have voiced growing dissatisfaction with many ministers’ performances, citing ongoing issues like unemployment, insecurity, and inadequate infrastructure. Public anger has led to protests such as the #EndBadGovernance movement in August, with more demonstrations planned for October.
While some ministers have been praised for their achievements, such as Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, others, like the Minister of Finance Wale Edun, have faced criticism for not effectively addressing economic challenges.
Ministers from various portfolios, including solid minerals, trade, digital economy, aviation, and health, have achieved notable successes but still face criticism for slow progress on key initiatives. Ministers like Festus Keyamo (Aviation), Prof. Muhammad Pate (Health), and Nyesom Wike (FCT) have been commended for accomplishments in their respective sectors.
In contrast, concerns persist about the lack of substantial progress in areas such as security, economic recovery, and public service delivery, leaving many Nigerians frustrated with the current administration.
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