KEY POINTS
- President Tinubu will use performance reports to reshuffle his cabinet since he will be different from Tinubu.
- The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation may be disbanded.
- This change is required as a way of dealing with poor performers and optimizing ministry positions.
Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Tinubu is due to effect changes in the federal cabinet after receiving performance returns from the ministry in the past few months.This was stated during a joint briefing at the Aso-rock Villa on Wednesday by the Special Adviser, Information/Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and Senior Special Assistant on Digital/New Media, O’Tega Ogra.
Onanuga, however, said there was no time limit for the reshuffle. He confirmed that the president had declared his intent to embark on the exercise. “The President has once indicated his intention to change his cabinet and he will,” Onanuga stated. He added that timing may still be vague. It will not be whimsical and will focus on performance factors.
Performance-based reshuffle
Ogra was quick to point out that the changes are going to be based on data. This data exists in performance reports by the Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman. She also heads the Central Delivery Coordination Unit. He clarified that Tinubu had promised this during a retreat. Ministers’ performance would be reviewed periodically, and a final decision would be made.
“The President’s decision to reshuffle his cabinet is a measure premised on performance results rather than ad hoc determinations,” Ogra said. He pointed out that the President had received several reports to make the forthcoming change.
Demands for a reshuffle and possibly ministry changes
Tinubu has received increasing pressure from part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members. The public also demands the sacking of ‘redundant’ ministers. Some signals suggest that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation may be removed in the reshuffle. There could also be restructuring in terms of some portfolios being merged. Others could be separated.
According to The Punch, During a three-day retreat for cabinet members last year, Tinubu said that the C.D.C.U, or the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, will assess ministers’ productivity. Their further stay with the administration will depend on achieving their goals. Tinubu stated, “For those who are performing, there is no need to worry. If no performance, you leave us,” he continued.
