There are strong indications that President Bola Tinubu has finalised the names and roles of those who will form his revamped cabinet, PUNCH reported on Saturday.
According to multiple sources within the Presidency, Tinubu has completed the list of ministers set to be retained or removed and was expected to release it on Thursday night, just a day after arriving in the United Kingdom for his two-week annual leave.
Amid growing economic challenges and the widespread protests that occurred in August, the President has been under increasing pressure, both from within his party, the All Progressives Congress, and external forces, to dismiss underperforming ministers.
Despite repeatedly issuing warnings regarding underperformance, the president’s cabinet has remained largely intact, with the notable exception of the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, in January 2024.
During a three-day retreat for cabinet members and presidential aides in November, Tinubu introduced a Central Delivery Coordination Unit, overseen by his Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman. This unit was tasked with evaluating the performance of ministers and other top officials.
The President made it clear that these performance assessments would determine who would stay or leave the cabinet.
“If you are performing, nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If no performance, you leave us. No one is an island and the buck stops on my desk,” Tinubu told the attendees.
Nearly a year after the president’s cabinet was inaugurated in August 2023, reports suggested that a reshuffle was forthcoming, although officials remained unclear about the exact timing.
It was revealed that the changes would go beyond a simple swapping of portfolios. Certain ministries, such as the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, were expected to be scrapped, while other portfolios would likely be merged or split.
Speaking under anonymity, officials disclosed that while the list was initially slated for release on Thursday, the President decided to “sleep on it” for a bit longer.
“We are just waiting for the go-ahead. All I know is that we are expecting him to send the new names of those he wants to drop and those he wants to appoint,” one source shared.
Another official added, “I’m surprised the list did not come out yesterday. That list is nearly finalized.”
Reports suggesting that lobbyists were crowding Tinubu’s residence in the UK were also dismissed by officials. “That’s not true. Even if they know where he is, access is restricted. He’s resting, and no one can just walk in to see him like that,” one source clarified.
On September 25, 2024, the Presidency confirmed that a cabinet reshuffle was imminent, based on performance data gathered by the Central Delivery Coordination Unit.
Tinubu’s working leave in the UK commenced on October 2 and is scheduled to end on October 16.
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