Cupboard shake-up: Tinubu calls for 46 ministers recent scorecards as foyer begins

•Cupboard rejig shall be based mostly on ministers’ efficiency – Presidency

•Political bigwigs, ministers intensify lobbying

Forward of the deliberate cupboard shake-up by President Bola Tinubu, a number of ministers and their political godfathers have intensified lobbying to retain their positions, The PidomNigeria has learnt.

The Presidency on Wednesday said that President Tinubu would quickly rejig his cupboard, which confirmed Sunday PidomNigeria’s September 1 report {that a} cupboard shakeup was imminent.

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This occurred as presidential aides advised The PidomNigeria that some ministers had began frantic lobbying to be within the President’s good books.

“Sure, that could be a typical factor. A few of the ministers shall be calling their godfathers to affect the President. It’s a regular factor. However the President will nonetheless do what’s on his thoughts for the nation,” one of many aides mentioned.

Our correspondents learnt that some ministers, who’re afraid of being dropped from the federal cupboard and their godfathers, have intensified lobbying, in search of the intervention of the President’s allies and associates, together with the Chief of Workers, Femi Gbajabiamila, for a soft-landing.

One other high official mentioned the CoS had expressed concern over the extraordinary lobbying and stress on Tinubu by these in search of assurances on the destiny of their protégés within the Federal Govt Council.

The supply said, “Since reviews filtered out that the President would quickly reshuffle his cupboard, he has been below immense stress from political godfathers and ministers who’re afraid that they might be dropped from the cupboard.

“As a result of intense stress, the CoS needed to advise the President to take some days off in the UK after concluding the Discussion board on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in China two weeks in the past.

“Do not forget that for some days, Nigerians didn’t learn about Tinubu’s whereabouts. After footage of his assembly with King Charles surfaced on-line, individuals began speculating that he went to London for medical checks. The actual fact is that he was suggested to spend a number of days to permit the stress and lobbying to subside.

“Anyway, it isn’t uncommon for politicians to foyer on behalf of their wards however Nigerians usually are not glad with the efficiency of lots of the ministers and the President would don’t have any selection however to allow them to go. If you’re not performing, it’s a must to go, no matter who your godfather is,” he added.

Sources disclosed that the President might announce the shake-up by October 1, however The PidomNigeria couldn’t independently affirm the date.

Nevertheless, addressing State Home correspondents on Wednesday, the Particular Adviser to the President on Data and Technique, Bayo Onanuga, and the Senior Particular Assistant to the President on Digital/New Media, O’Tega Ogra, defined that the cupboard shake-up can be based mostly on the empirical proof from efficiency reviews the President had obtained up to now months.

Onanuga mentioned Tinubu had said his intent to rejig his cupboard, confirming The PidomNigeria report of an impending cupboard rejig.

Nevertheless, he added that there was no timeline for the upcoming reshuffle, however the President, he famous, had “expressed his want” to do it.

He mentioned, “Let me let you know, I don’t have any timeline. The President has expressed his want to reshuffle his cupboard, and he’ll do it.

“I don’t know whether or not he’s going to do it earlier than October 1, however he will certainly do it. So, that’s what I’ll say. He has not given us any timeline when he needs to do it, however he’ll do it. He has expressed his plan that he needs to do it.”

Talking on the efficiency of the current administration, Onanuga mentioned, “The President has given an order to all his ministers on the final Federal Govt Council assembly to go on the market and communicate in regards to the actions of his administration.

“A few of them have been media shy, tv shy, radio shy, and he needs them to beat all that and go on the market and discuss what they’ve been doing as a result of the sensation out there may be that authorities is just not doing sufficient and the federal government has been doing loads. And it’s as much as them to go on the market and blow their very own trumpet. They need to go on the market and discuss what their ministries have been doing.”

Ogra mentioned the choice wouldn’t be arbitrary however can be based mostly on the efficiency reviews introduced by the Particular Adviser to the President on Coverage Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, who heads the Central Supply Coordination Unit.

“The President’s determination to reshuffle his cupboard can also be based mostly on empirical proof. , he had mentioned when he was talking on the retreat for the ministers that they had been going to have periodic opinions and the choices which can be extracted from these opinions shall be used to make that ultimate determination.

“I do know he has gotten a few reviews, and as Mr Onanuga mentioned, when he’s prepared to do this, he’ll.”

Tinubu has been going through growing stress from inside and out of doors his occasion, the All Progressives Congress, to sack underperforming ministers in his cupboard.

There are sturdy indications that the President might scrap the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation as a part of the cupboard rejig.

One other Presidency supply advised The PidomNigeria that the train would additionally see some portfolios break up and others merged right into a single entity, whereas some ministers can be relieved of their duties.

Though the President warned in opposition to underperformance about 10 months in the past, the cupboard remained largely intact, save for the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Final November, after a three-day retreat for cupboard members and presidential aides, Tinubu introduced {that a} Central Supply Coordination Unit headed by Bala-Usman would measure the efficiency of ministers and different high authorities officers.

Their efficiency would decide who would depart or stay, Tinubu said.

Early in his administration, after setting up a cupboard, Tinubu arrange a Outcome and Supply Unit headed by Bala-Usman to measure the efficiency of every minister.

There are indications she has carried out it, and will proceed to tweak the report till a reshuffle is completed.

On the opening of a three-day cupboard retreat for ministers, presidential aides, everlasting secretaries and high authorities functionaries on November 1, 2023, the President mentioned the ministers in his cupboard would solely retain their places of work based mostly on efficiency, which might be reviewed quarterly.

In commemoration of his first anniversary in workplace, President Tinubu directed his ministers to current their efficiency reviews to Nigerians.

“If you’re performing, nothing to worry,” the President said. “In case you miss the target, we’ll evaluation it. If no efficiency, you allow us. Nobody is an island and the buck stops on my desk.” On January 24, the company answerable for the evaluation, the Central Supply Coordination Unit, skilled at the very least 140 officers to trace and assess the efficiency of federal ministries, departments and companies forward of the evaluation.

Talking on Come up TV’s Information Night time in April, Bala-Usman affirmed that the unit had obtained efficiency reviews from at the very least 20 of the 35 ministries.

She defined that the evaluation reviews can be a product of a joint effort of the ministers, residents and trade consultants.

Bala-Usman mentioned, “Our submission is for the primary quarter. So, the primary quarter has simply ended, and we now have initiated the evaluation course of. The ministers have all been requested to submit their efficiency based mostly on the deliverables.”

She asserted ministers can be assessed “based mostly on what’s on the market within the public area. They might write to say, ‘Primarily based on each deliverable you’ve given me, that is what I’ve carried out throughout the first quarter of the yr.’”

In the meantime, Nigerians have expressed growing frustration and anger over what they understand as poor efficiency by some authorities ministers.

The discontent stems from varied points, together with financial challenges, corruption, unemployment, insecurity, and lack of infrastructural improvement.

Regardless of excessive hopes when the ministers had been appointed, many Nigerians really feel that the guarantees made throughout campaigns haven’t been fulfilled.

Nigerians additionally really feel that the federal government has not delivered on guarantees to enhance roads, electrical energy, healthcare, and training.

Different areas of concern embody rising inflation, unemployment, and a stagnant economic system which have left many Nigerians struggling to make ends meet.

Additionally, the continued risk from rebel teams, bandits, and kidnappers has worsened, with many blaming the defence ministers for not doing sufficient to strengthen safety forces or convey lasting options to the disaster.

The final hardships and frustration resulted within the #Endbadgovernance protests which rocked the nation in August.

The group has additionally introduced one other spherical of protests in October.

A few of the ministers like Amb. Yusuf Tuggar (International Affairs) recorded appreciable success after over a yr in workplace.

Tuggar was instrumental in strengthening Nigeria’s bilateral relations with key strategic companions, together with international locations in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Beneath his stewardship, Nigeria continued to play a major position throughout the African Union, particularly concerning peace and safety efforts in conflict-affected areas such because the Sahel, West Africa, and the Horn of Africa. He additionally appointed 12 consuls-general and 5 chargés d’affaires to signify the nation in 14 international locations on-appointment of latest ambassadors 13 months after the previous envoys had been recalled has been questioned.

Minister of Data and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has been lauded for engaged on initiatives to fight faux information and promote factual reporting, in addition to campaigns geared toward fostering nationwide unity and reorienting the citizenry in direction of constructive values. He’s launched the Viewers Measurement System and the Nationwide Worth Constitution however has been accused of not speaking authorities insurance policies and programmes successfully.

Atiku Bagudu (Minister of Funds and Nationwide Planning) negotiated the 2023 Supplementary Funds and the 2024 fiscal estimates and their modification with the Nationwide Meeting. He additionally carried out over 500 chosen FG initiatives carried out in 2023 Capital Appropriation had been monitored to make sure accountability and worth for cash and reimbursed N438.3bn to the FCT and 34 states. Thus far, 67,038 jobs have been created within the first part of the 2023 implementation however his insurance policies elevated financial hardship.

Discount of revenue-to-debt service ratio from 97% in 2023 to 68% in 2024 has been considered one of Wale Edun’s achievements as Minister of Finance. He additionally paid again N7.3tn Methods and Means obligations and initiated strategic enter programme to extend meals provide and a pivot to CNG gas for mass transit automobiles.

Nevertheless, financial hardship persist because of authorities insurance policies whereas he’s been criticised for sluggish rollout of social programmes regardless of growing poverty.

Minister of Stable Minerals Dele Alake promoted the diversification of the economic system by mining, commissioned the geological and mineral useful resource maps to information buyers on the areas of key minerals and created a long-term grasp plan to information the stable minerals sector however he’s been unable to draw enough buyers whereas stakeholders complain of his opaque insurance policies.

Doris Uzoka-Anite (Minister of Commerce) paid N50,000 grant to small enterprise house owners and engaged with worldwide companions/buyers to advertise Nigeria’s industrial and commerce alternatives. She additionally streamlined processes associated to commerce facilitation, decreasing delays in customs and port operations. Nevertheless, she’s but to start fee of loans to producers and MSMEs.

Minister of Digital Econmy Bosun Tijani has been instrumental in implementing Nigeria’s Begin-up Act, ongoing coaching and placement of three million technical abilities in addition to engaged on initiatives to extend entry to enterprise capital and funding for Nigerian tech startups

However below the minister’s watch, there’s been no progress on plans to extend web entry nationwide. He’s additionally but to arrange OneGov, a one-stop store for all authorities companies, and investing in innovation hubs nationwide

Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo initiated strikes for return of Emirates Airways to Nigeria and has supported indigenous airways and others within the aviation sector to scale back capital flight. He facilitated the graduation of Air Peace operations to the UK and has started strikes to construct a second runway on the Abuja Airport. He additionally facilitated the fee of 45 months of minimal wage arrears owed NiMet employees

Energy minister Adebayo Adelabu efficiently launched the lengthy awaited Supervisory Management and Information Acquisition and put in techniques used for controlling, monitoring, and analysing industrial units and processes.

Well being minister Prof Muhammad Pate secured a $3bn pledge from international companions whereas over 10 million kids obtained tetanus and diphtheria vaccines below his watch.

He additionally retrained 120,000 well being employees,elevated college admission quota by 100 per cent in well being establishments and facilitated signing of Govt Order on healthcare merchandise.

FCT minister Nyesom Wike inaugurated business operations of Abuja metro rail system, resurfaced 135 roads and constructed a number of bridges within the metropolis centre. He accredited promotion of over 8000 FCTA workers, and 1000 FCDA workers. He accomplished the development of the Vice President’s official residence.

The Supreme Courtroom judgment on LG monetary autonomy occurred below Justice minister Lateef Fagbemi. He additionally handed into regulation the 300 per cent judicial wage increment invoice. He performed key roles within the conviction of 125 Boko Haram terrorists and financiers in mass trial and the £2.1m corruption proceeds obtained from bailiwick of Jersey.

Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Sources (Gasoline), unlocked $3bn funding within the fuel sector by resolving points referring to the execution of the Gasoline Gross sales and Buy Settlement for the Brass Methanol Undertaking. He midwifed the reconstruction of the Midstream and Downstream Gasoline Infrastructure Fund council and pointers and unveiled many fuel initiatives since his appointment.