President Bola Tinubu in a bold move to reshuffle his cabinet dismissed five ministers from among the ministries and reassigned 10 others to new portfolios.
The decision, which also included the nomination of seven new ministers for Senate confirmation, was announced on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has said the reshuffle was largely influenced by public perception and feedback.
Among the ministers dismissed were Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism; Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education; Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development; and Abdullahi Gwarzo, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development.
According to Onanuga, the President’s decision comes at a time when public criticism of government performance has been rising, prompting this high-level reshuffle.
Onanuga explained that the removal of these ministers was not arbitrary but based on a careful analysis of public sentiment and performance data. "Hadiza Bala Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, introduced a technological platform where Nigerians were able to rate the performance of ministers," Onanuga said in an interview on Wednesday night. "These ratings were then reviewed, and the President acted on the feedback."
The government’s use of this system reflects its awareness of the need for greater transparency and responsiveness to the public’s concerns. Presidency had noted. “A few weeks ago, during a cabinet meeting, the President urged the ministers to clearly communicate their accomplishments, stating that there was a growing public perception that the government was underperforming. This reshuffle was not only about meeting the President’s expectations but also about aligning with the public’s view,” Onanuga added.
In addition to the reshuffle, the President has made key changes to several ministries. The Ministry of Niger Delta Development has been renamed the Ministry of Regional Development, while the Ministry of Sports Development has been scrapped.
The Ministries of Tourism and Arts and Culture have also been merged to form the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
Onanuga further revealed that the government is preparing to implement measures aimed at reducing the cost of governance. "The President will soon announce significant cuts in government expenditure, starting with the ministers," he said, underscoring the administration’s commitment to addressing the country’s fiscal challenges.
