News

Tinubu to Scrap Humanitarian Ministry as Part of Cabinet Reshuffle

Published

3 months ago

Sep 19, 2024.

There are strong indications that President Bola Tinubu may abolish the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation as part of a major cabinet reshuffle.

According to sources within the presidency, this shake-up could involve merging or splitting various portfolios, along with the possible dismissal of some ministers.

Facing increasing pressure from both internal and external factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu’s administration is being scrutinized for its cabinet’s performance.

Despite issuing a warning about underperformance nearly 10 months ago, the cabinet has largely remained unchanged, with the exception of Dr. Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Last November, after a three-day retreat with cabinet members and aides, Tinubu established a Central Delivery Coordination Unit, led by Mrs. Hadiza Bala-Usman, Special Adviser on Policy Coordination. The unit was tasked with assessing the performance of ministers and senior officials.

At the time, Tinubu emphasised that performance would be the key factor in determining job security within his administration, stating, “If you are performing, there is nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If there is no performance, you leave us.”

Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs

However, insiders suggest the upcoming changes will involve more than just portfolio adjustments. It is expected that some ministries, including the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, which has been without a permanent head since Edu’s suspension, will be completely scrapped.

A source explained, “He [Tinubu] was supposed to announce the changes last week, but he was out of the country. He wants to be present to make these changes. It’s not just a cabinet reshuffle; it’s also a restructuring of some ministries to improve effectiveness and output.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, for instance, may be scrapped because several agencies already perform its functions without needing a dedicated ministry.”

Another source hinted that the reshuffle could happen before Tinubu departs for New York to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, stating, “The plan is for this to happen before he leaves for the UNGA this week. Some portfolios will be split, others merged, and some ministries may be eliminated.”

Meanwhile, some ministers have reportedly begun lobbying through influential figures in a bid to retain their positions. A source remarked, “It’s common for ministers to reach out to their godfathers to influence the President’s decision, but ultimately, Tinubu will make the final call based on what’s best for the country.”

Click here to watch our video of the week: