President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reshuffled his cabinet, removing several ministers based on a performance review that was influenced by public perception.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, explained that the decision followed a careful assessment process overseen by Hadiza Bala Usman, the President’s Social Adviser on Policy.
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Onanuga revealed this during an interview on AriseTV, noting that the appraisal had been part of the President’s plan since the ministers were sworn in last year.
He recalled that at the August 2023 swearing-in ceremony, President Tinubu warned that he would not hesitate to remove ministers who failed to meet expectations. The President reinforced this message during a ministerial retreat in October 2023, where he emphasized the need for continuous performance reviews.
Hadiza Bala Usman was tasked with overseeing the appraisal, which utilized a technology-driven process that allowed Nigerians to rate the ministers. “Hadiza brought technology to it, asking Nigerians to score the ministers,” Onanuga said. “The results were based on empirical facts, the public perception of these ministers, and it was the people who actually did the scorecard. The President acted on those results.”
As a result, several ministers were removed from the cabinet, including Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education), Uju Kennedy Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Mohammed Gwarzo (State for Housing), Jamila Ibrahim (Youth Development), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), and the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, who has since been replaced.
The reshuffle reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that his administration delivers on its promises and continues to make progress in key areas of governance.