President Bola Tinubu recently dismissed five ministers from his cabinet, a move guided by public opinion and backed by solid evidence, according to the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The decision, as reported by Naija News, came after Tinubu closely reviewed Nigerians’ feedback on the ministers’ performance.
On Wednesday, the president relieved Barr. Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Minister of Women Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Minister of Tourism), Prof. Tahir Mamman (Minister of Education), Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo (Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development), and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Minister of Youth Development) from their duties.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE TV, Onanuga explained that Tinubu’s action reflected the public’s perception of the ministers’ performance. He pointed out that during the ministers’ swearing-in, the president made it clear that he had the authority to hire and fire, with a focus on results. Tinubu even emphasized during an October 2023 ministerial retreat that he would regularly assess his cabinet and make necessary adjustments if some ministers were underperforming.
Hadiza Bala Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, spearheaded a performance appraisal that gathered public input on the ministers’ achievements. This evaluation played a significant role in Tinubu’s decision-making.
Onanuga emphasized that the president’s decision wasn’t arbitrary, stating, “The public had a hand in this. The appraisal system, which included public input, showed how Nigerians rated the ministers’ work. The president acted based on these empirical results.”
He further clarified that while the ministers were dismissed, it didn’t necessarily mean they failed to meet Tinubu’s expectations. “It was also about public expectations. The president urged his ministers to go out and communicate their accomplishments more effectively to Nigerians, as the perception outside was that the government wasn’t delivering, even though the administration felt it was,” Onanuga added.
On the appointment of seven new ministers, Onanuga defended the decision, stressing that more hands are needed to address the pressing issues Nigeria faces. Tinubu remains committed to adjusting his cabinet as necessary to ensure the government meets its goals.
