Strong indications have emerged that President Bola Tinubu has finalized the list of names and designations for his reshuffled cabinet. Multiple sources within the Presidency, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, revealed that Tinubu has completed the list of ministers to be retained and those to be dismissed, with an official announcement anticipated on Thursday night, shortly after his arrival in the United Kingdom for a two-week annual leave.
In light of the ongoing economic challenges and nationwide protests that erupted last August, President Tinubu has faced mounting pressure from both within his party, the All Progressives Congress, and the general public to replace underperforming ministers. Despite periodic warnings about underperformance, the cabinet has largely remained unchanged, with the notable exception of the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in January 2024.
During a three-day retreat for cabinet members and presidential aides last November, Tinubu emphasized the importance of accountability, announcing the establishment of a Central Delivery Coordination Unit led by his Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman. This unit is tasked with evaluating the performance of ministers and other high-ranking officials, with periodic reports determining who will stay and who will 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,” the President stated.
As the one-year anniversary of Tinubu’s cabinet inauguration approaches, speculation about a reshuffle has intensified. While officials had previously indicated that changes were imminent, they were unable to provide a specific timeline. However, it has been reported that the upcoming shakeup will involve more than just portfolio swaps; some ministries, including the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, may be eliminated, while others could be merged or divided.
Sources indicated that Tinubu had intended to release the list on Thursday but opted to “sleep on it” for further reflection. “We are just waiting for the go-ahead. All I know is that we are waiting for him to send the new names of those he wants to drop and those he wants to appoint,” one source shared.
Another official dismissed rumors of lobbyists crowding the President’s residence in the UK, stating, “That’s not true. You know there would be speculations all over the place. Even if they know where he is, can they access him? On this trip, he will likely undergo medicals, too. The way he is resting now, no one can see him just like that.”
On September 25, 2024, the Presidency confirmed that a cabinet reshuffle was forthcoming, based on performance data from reports submitted by the Central Delivery Coordination Unit over the preceding months. Tinubu’s working leave in the UK commenced on October 2 and is scheduled to conclude on October 16.