After 11 months of warning growls at some of his cabinet members, President Bola Tinubu finally took a bite.
Having spent two weeks in Europe for his working leave, the President seems to have grown some teeth while away and returned with a zeal to bite. And since charity, they say, begins at home, what better place to start than his cabinet?
Last Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council, comprising the President and his cabinet of Ministers, met for the 19th time since the administration kicked off. Although ministers appeared in all their prim and colour, I sensed that some knew it would be their last appearance in that Council Chamber, at least for the foreseeable future.
Here’s how the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Tunde Rahman, narrated it: “After Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, the President invited five of the 47 ministers to see him in his office. An ominous silence descended on the hallowed Council Chambers, the venue of the FEC meeting.
“Many in the chambers feared these five ministers were on their way out, that the sun had set on their tenures, and that the President was inviting them to convey the grim decision, a valedictory visit.
“The five ministers…were relieved of their ministerial roles following a scientific assessment of their performance in an exercise coordinated by Special Adviser to the President on Policy & Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman.”
At the 2023 Cabinet Retreat for Ministers, Presidential Aides, Permanent Secretaries, and top government functionaries last November, Tinubu said Ministers will only retain their seats based on performance, which will be reviewed periodically.
“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,” he told his 48 disciples.
At the Council’s inaugural meeting in August 2023, Tinubu told his cabinet members, “You and I know that expectations are high, and these are tough times. We must work hard and move ourselves to create a buoyant economy that will serve Nigeria…you have been selected to perform your utmost best.
“It is in your hands now…It is a great commitment that you have made to the country. Since your inauguration as a minister, you have become a servant for the people, serving all of the people, all of the time.”
Five months later, he suspended the Humanitarian Minister, Ms. Beta Edu, who served only five months. Edu’s exit showed, among other things, that ministerial offices were no longer the political monarchies the immediate past administration made them to be. Every day spent on the seat must be justified by results, transparency and accountability because, as Tinubu said, “…expectations are high.”
Ten months post-Edu, however, it appeared that some of the President’s downlines in the multi-level marketing scheme of governance were not pulling their weight. But the president appeared hesitant to act.
The narrative of an impending ministerial reshuffle hovered for weeks. Speculations grew rife, and the media airspace almost got choked with kites. All the while, the President kept going about his business, keeping many in the polity on the edge of their seats.
Although word got out that he would bite from a distance while in the UK, nothing happened. So, last Wednesday, the President finally acted, replacing five ministers, appointing seven new persons, and reassigning 10 portfolios. Those who left the stage were the Ministers of Women Affairs, Uju-Kennedy-Ohanenye; Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim; and State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo.
“The President thanked the outgoing members of the Federal Executive Council for their service to the nation while wishing them the best in their future endeavours,” the Villa said in a statement explaining that the “far-reaching actions” are meant to “reinvigorate the Administration’s capacity for optimal efficiency pursuant of his commitment to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.”
Tinubu also nominated seven new ministers pending their confirmation by the Senate. They were Dr Nentawe Yilwatda (Plateau) who succeeds Edu as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Dingyadi (Sokoto) as Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu (Imo) as Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Ogun State) as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Idi Maiha (Kaduna) as Ministry of Livestock Development; Yusuf Ata (Kano) as Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; Dr Suwaiba Ahmad (Kano) as Minister of State for Education.
It appears that Nentawe has his work cut out for him. While his predecessor oversaw Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, his mandate was adjusted to Poverty Reduction. It will no longer be enough to simply rub balm on poverty-inflicted wounds. He must cure some.
Although Nigerians welcomed the shakeup, many felt the changes needed to be more far-reaching. More eyes were on the economic team and the oil and gas sector. Others asked why a former governor whom almost no one hears from remained on the cabinet and why another ex-governor, who was accused of terror financing in his home state, retained his office.
However, Rahman said, “President Tinubu has done what is needed. There is now a Minister of State, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, to complement the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun…Uzoka-Anite is equally grounded in finance and economic matters.”
So far, the answers from the President’s team sound like responding “Yes” when asked, “What is your name?”
