The much awaited cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu, aimed at easing out non performing ministers and aides is here and may happen any moment.
The development has reved up activities at the Villa as politicians have intensified their lobby through visits to those considered as members of the president’s kitchen cabinet and immediate family.
While some of the current ministers, perceived by the public as haven performred below expectations are said to be lobbying some top ruling Party chieftains, those other party members who felt left out during the initial appointments see the development as another opportunity to get into the cabinet by all means.
According to a highly placed source, the cabinet reshuffle is a “common knowledge to all the appointees as the president told them recently to go outside and tell the public what they are doing at their various ministries. By so doing, the ministers may have automatically known their ratings in the eye of the public. So, it has been when… so, it will not surprise any of them, whichever way it goes. But, one thing I can tell you is that there will be upsets and surprises, but at the end of the day, that’s what life is all about- changes.”
Another source said, “The initial plan was for the reshuffle to take place on or before October 1, independence celebration, but I don’t know whether recent travels by the president may have altered the plan.”
Pressed further , he said, “President Tinubu’s recent decline to travel to US but rather directed his vice to attend the UNGA meeting may not be totally due to the devastating floods in Borno state alone, but possibly to put finishing touches to the list of the new cabinet members.”
Confirming the development, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, while briefing State House Journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday said the president is mot happy with the performances of spme of the ministers.
He noted that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the current government has recorded significant achievements in its quest to transform the economy, of which members of the public are unaware.
Onanuga stated that the President who expressed his displeasure with the performance of some of his Ministers, had during the meeting of the Federal Executive Council FEC, on Monday, directed the Ministers to engage more with members of the public on the achievements of his administration.
He said, “I don’t have any timeline. The President has expressed his desire to reshuffle his cabinet and will do it. I don’t know whether he wants to do it before October 1, but he will surely do it.”
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Explaining further the reason for Tinubu’s decision, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Strategy Engagement and Communications, O’tega Ogra, said it is based on empirical evidence.
Ogra noted that during the retreat that was organised for the ministers shortly after their inauguration in August 2023, Tinubu made it clear that there would be periodic reviews of their performance and that the review would guide the President’s decision.