- President Tinubu plans to merge ministries and scrap the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs while pressuring for accountability
- A Central Delivery Coordination Unit was established to evaluate ministers' performances, with poor performance potentially leading to dismissal
- The Ministry has faced accusations of corruption, prompting calls for its dissolution and restructuring of related functions
President Bola Tinubu is reportedly planning a significant restructuring of his cabinet, which may include the scrapping of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Sources within the Presidency have indicated that the reshuffle will involve merging some ministries and portfolios while relieving certain ministers of their duties.
Tinubu has faced mounting pressure from both party members and external stakeholders to address underperformance in his cabinet.
Although he warned against underperformance nearly ten months ago, the cabinet has largely remained unchanged, aside from the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Following a cabinet retreat last November, Tinubu established a Central Delivery Coordination Unit to assess ministerial performance, asserting that poor performance would result in ministerial changes.
"If you are performing, there is nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it," he stated.
However, according to unnamed sources, the upcoming reshuffle will not be limited to minor adjustments.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, originally formed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, is expected to be entirely scrapped, as there are concerns over its necessity amid overlapping functions with existing agencies.
"There are several agencies performing those functions already, and they can do it without a ministry," one source explained.
This decision comes amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the ministry, particularly under its first minister, Sadiya Farouq, and more recently under Edu.
The President is anticipated to finalise these changes before his departure for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this week. As the reshuffle approaches, some ministers have reportedly begun lobbying their political allies in hopes of influencing the outcome.
The impending cabinet reshuffle raises questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria's government structure and aims to bolster performance and accountability within the administration.
I’m ready to take hard decisions to move Nigeria forward — Tinubu
Earlier, TheRadar reported that President Bola Tinubu, during his visit to Beijing, on Friday, September 6, affirmed his commitment to making tough decisions necessary for Nigeria's progress.
Speaking at the China World Hotel, where he met with members of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) China and the broader Nigerian community, Tinubu described his visit as "very good and successful."
