The Traffic

Tinubu’s Return Sparks Cabinet Shake-up Fears: Ministers Brace for Reshuffle"

Yakubu Haruna Yakubu 

Tensions are high among ministers as President Bola Tinubu's return to Nigeria on Sunday, October 20, fuels speculation of a major cabinet reshuffle. Sources within the presidency have revealed that Tinubu may be preparing to make sweeping changes as early as Wednesday, October 23.

At the center of the reshuffle buzz is a performance evaluation report compiled by Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination. The report, which was taken by Tinubu during his recent trip to the UK, is said to detail the performance—or lack thereof—of key ministers, and will be crucial in determining who stays in the administration and who is shown the door.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, hinted that the reshuffle aims to improve the administration’s efficiency, noting that ministers who have failed to meet expectations could face dismissal. This move is seen as part of Tinubu’s efforts to realign his cabinet with the objectives of his Renewed Hope Agenda, which has come under scrutiny for including ministers perceived to have been appointed based on political connections rather than merit.

In the wake of Tinubu’s return, several high-profile figures, including Zaccheus Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Minister of Works Dave Umahi, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, were seen meeting with the president at Aso Rock.

A source within the presidential villa hinted that Wednesday’s scheduled Federal Executive Council meeting may serve as a farewell for ministers who are about to be replaced. Tinubu is expected to announce his decisions on the reshuffle before the week’s end, marking a pivotal moment in his administration’s trajectory.

The anticipation has triggered calls for the dismissal of certain ministers, including Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, with critics arguing that Bagudu has failed to effectively handle his responsibilities. Lawyer Bisi Afolabi, in a recent interview, urged Tinubu to remove Bagudu, adding to the mounting pressure on the president to act decisively.

As Tinubu prepares to unveil the reshuffle, the political landscape in Nigeria braces for significant changes that could redefine the future of his government.