The Presidency has announced that President Bola Tinubu is preparing to reorganize his cabinet, with decisions rooted in the performance assessments of ministers conducted over recent months.
This confirmation aligns with earlier reports indicating an impending cabinet reshuffle. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, alongside O’Tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant on Digital/New Media, provided insights during a joint press briefing at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
Onanuga stated that while there is no specific timeline for the reshuffle, the President has shown a clear intent to proceed. “The President has communicated his desire to reshuffle the cabinet. Although I can’t specify a timeline, he intends to do it,” Onanuga remarked.
Ogra emphasized that the reshuffle will be guided by performance evaluations presented by Hadiza Bala-Usman, Special Adviser on Policy Coordination and head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit. He noted, “The decision will be evidence-based, reflecting the findings from periodic reviews conducted as the President previously outlined.”
Pressure is mounting on Tinubu from both party members and external stakeholders to replace underperforming ministers. There are strong indications that the President might dissolve the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation as part of the restructuring.
Sources within the presidency have indicated that the cabinet changes could involve merging certain portfolios and relieving some ministers of their duties. Despite previous warnings from the President regarding underperformance, the cabinet has remained largely unchanged, with the notable exception of suspending Dr. Betta Edu, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Last November, following a retreat with cabinet members, Tinubu established the Central Delivery Coordination Unit to monitor ministerial performance. He stated, “If you are performing, there’s nothing to worry about. However, if objectives are missed, we’ll conduct a review. Non-performers will be let go. The responsibility ultimately lies with me.”
