President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed calls to reduce the size of his cabinet, emphasizing that the current structure is essential for governing a nation as vast and populous as Nigeria.
Speaking during his first Presidential Media Chat on Monday, Tinubu justified the over 50 ministerial appointments, stating that they were created with efficiency and the nation’s needs in mind.
“Nigeria is a large country,” the president said. “If you are to entertain over 200 million persons, calculate how many stewards will be required. I’m not prepared to bring down the number of my cabinet. I saw the need for them when I created the portfolio.”
Tinubu explained that the cabinet’s structure was designed to ensure effective governance and cater to the demands of a nation with over 200 million citizens. He reiterated that efficiency remains the primary goal behind the appointments and confirmed his unwillingness to shrink its size.
The president also addressed other pressing issues during the media chat, including the introduction of tax reform bills currently under consideration at the National Assembly. Tinubu asserted that these reforms “have come to stay.”
He further expressed no regrets about the removal of the fuel subsidy in June 2023, a decision that has drawn mixed reactions nationwide.
