Pointers have emerged that several ministers in President Tinubu’s cabinet are enveloped by anxiety over a potential reshuffle, as speculation mounts since from the 5th of October, 2024, regarding their performance and contributions to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
This development follows recent comments from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who hinted at an impending cabinet reshuffle aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the ministers.
Those found lacking in activity and contribution could face removal from their positions.
Criticism of the current ministers has been growing, with detractors arguing that many were appointed based on political patronage rather than merit.
Prior to the announcement of Tinubu’s cabinet, there were high expectations for a team predominantly composed of technocrats, further fueling dissatisfaction among observers.
According to sources close to the presidency, revealed that before the president’s two-week trip to the United Kingdom, a comprehensive performance review of the ministers was prepared by Mrs. Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination and head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit.
It is understood that Mrs. Usman has taken on the challenging task of compiling this performance data, a job she has reportedly executed diligently.
According to the source, “some of the Ministers are jittery and have tried to lobby her but she is not the kind of person to be manipulated. She is a strict and thorough person right from the time she was the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority.
“The President is going to rejig his cabinet to bring fresh hands that will help to translate his Renewed Hope Agenda into a complete reality.”
Strong indications have emerged that President Bola Tinubu has completed the list containing the names and designations of those who will serve in his reshuffled cabinet.
Following the biting economic hardship and the nationwide protests last August, President Tinubu has been facing increasing pressure from within and outside his party, the All Progressives Congress, to sack underperforming ministers.
While the president periodically warned against underperformance, his cabinet remained mostly unchanged, except for suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, in January 2024.
“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,” the President stated,
