Tinubu Finalizes Cabinet Reshuffle
Strong indications have emerged that President Bola Tinubu has completed the selection process for his reshuffled cabinet. Multiple sources within the Presidency have revealed to Saturday Punch that the president has finalized the names and roles of both retained and dropped ministers.
The much-anticipated announcement is expected to take place on Thursday night, following Tinubu’s arrival in the United Kingdom for his two-week annual leave.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that this cabinet reshuffle comes in response to significant economic challenges and nationwide protests that occurred last August.
President Tinubu has faced mounting pressure from within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the public to remove underperforming ministers.
Despite periodic warnings from the president about maintaining performance standards, his cabinet has remained largely unchanged since its inauguration, with the notable exception being the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in January 2024.
During a three-day retreat for cabinet members and presidential aides last November, Tinubu established a Central Delivery Coordination Unit, led by his Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman.
This unit is responsible for evaluating the performance of ministers and other senior government officials, utilizing periodic reports to inform decisions regarding cabinet membership.
“If you are performing, there’s nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If there’s no performance, you leave us. No one is an island, and the buck stops on my desk,” the president stated during the retreat.
Now, a year since his cabinet’s inauguration, the anticipated reshuffle is expected to result in more than just changes in portfolios. Sources indicate that certain ministries, such as the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, may be abolished, while others could be merged or split to improve efficiency.
Officials speaking to Punch remained cautious, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
They confirmed that while the president initially planned to release the new cabinet list on Thursday, he chose to take additional time to finalize his decisions.
Tinubu Finalizes Cabinet Reshuffle
“We are just waiting for the go-ahead. All I know is that we’re waiting for him to send the new names of those he wants to drop and those he wants to appoint.
“We have been expecting them since yesterday (Thursday). I’m not sure of any specifics regarding names for now.
“The last I heard, the president wanted to sleep over the list again before releasing it. Perhaps he’s reconsidering some names,” one source revealed.
Another source expressed surprise that the list was not released as expected, stating, “That thing is almost finalized already.”
In response to rumors, an official denied reports that lobbyists were crowding the president’s residence in the UK. “That’s not true. Speculations will always arise. Do they even know where he is? Even if they did, can they access him?
Some claim lobbyists are visiting him from all directions, but he will likely undergo medical evaluations during this trip. Given how he’s resting, it’s unlikely anyone can see him easily. I can guarantee that,” the source affirmed.
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