President Bola Tinubu, during his first presidential media chat on Monday, declared that he is not prepared to downsize his cabinet.
With 45 ministers sworn in back in August 2023 – the highest number since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999 – his cabinet has already undergone some changes. Three more ministers were added in October 2023, bringing the total to 48, and a year later, a reshuffle led to five ministers being let go, seven new ones being appointed, and 10 cabinet members receiving new portfolios.
Despite criticisms about the size of his cabinet, Tinubu believes that every single member plays a vital role in driving the administration’s mission forward.
“I’m not prepared to bring down the size of my cabinet. I saw the need before I put them together,” he said.
“You don’t give somebody an assignment that they cannot fulfill. No. The job description must be efficient and effective.
“Nigeria is a large country. If you are to entertain over 200 million (people), just on entertainment. Calculate how many stewards you would require.
“Let’s pay attention to efficiency. Efficiency and effectiveness are the hallmarks of the philosophy behind that cabinet.
“I’m not ready to shrink a little bit of it. I need them. Show me one (that is not adding value).”
