Urging Tinubu Not To Turn The Searchlight Away From Ministers Who Survived The Cabinet Shake-Up, by Isaac Asabor

The recent cabinet shake-up by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been met with mixed reactions from Nigerians, sparking public debate about the choices made and the reasons behind them. While many Nigerians had hoped for a more significant shake-up, some have raised eyebrows saying that the searchlight should not be turned away from the ministers who survived the shake-up as deeper scrutiny of their performance is crucial. Public opinion suggests that there are some ministers who should have been shown the door, or at the very least, redeployed to other ministries where their expertise, or lack thereof, might align better with the nation’s needs.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient to urge the president to keep his gaze firmly on the ministers who survived the reshuffle and ensure that their performance meets the high expectations of Nigerians who are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.

In any democratic system, the cabinet reshuffle is a critical tool for a sitting president to reconfigure his or her team and improve government efficiency. It is not just about optics or shuffling names around to create a sense of change, but a decisive move to ensure that the right people are placed in the right positions to serve the interests of the nation. Ministers are appointed to head specific ministries based on their expertise, experience, and ability to drive progress. When their performance falls short, the reshuffle becomes a vital mechanism to correct inefficiencies, inject new energy, and refocus the government’s agenda.

For President Tinubu, a reshuffle is particularly important at this critical juncture of his administration. Faced with economic challenges, public discontent, and pressing demands for reforms, his selection of ministers can either help his government regain public confidence or further erode it. However, the recent reshuffle, though seen as a necessary step, appears incomplete. While some ministers were removed or redeployed, there are lingering concerns about those who stayed behind.

Across social and mainstream media, Nigerians have voiced concerns about the performance of certain ministers who somehow survived the reshuffle. The outcry is not merely rooted in personal biases but stems from a growing frustration with the lack of tangible progress in key areas such as security, education, healthcare, and economic management. Several ministers have come under scrutiny for failing to deliver on their mandates, yet they remain in office. Why? This is the question many are asking.

For instance, the minister responsible for handling the economy has been accused of failing to provide clear solutions to the inflationary trends, rising unemployment, and declining purchasing power of the average Nigerian. Despite the government’s efforts to inject palliatives and ease economic pains, the consensus is that the strategy lacks coherence, and the minister in charge has not articulated a comprehensive plan to reverse the trend. This raises the question of whether a more capable individual might better steer the country towards economic stability.

In fact, certain ministers responsible for various sectors of the economy have been criticized for not performing as expected right from the day they were variously appointed. Despite several months in office, the sectors been overseen by these ministers remain plagued by conspicuously unaddressed challenges. . Against the foregoing backdrop, not a few Nigerians have been wondering if the ministers in charge of these sectors are ideally round pegs in round holes, and many had hoped that the reshuffle would bring in new leadership with fresh ideas.

As a leader who campaigned on promises of transformation, President Tinubu cannot afford to ignore these concerns. His administration has only just begun, but the clock is ticking. Every day that a non-performing minister remains in office is a day wasted in addressing the critical issues that Nigerians face. The president’s legacy will be defined not just by his policies but also by the people he chooses to implement them.

The decision to retain certain ministers has led to speculation that political loyalty, rather than competence, played a significant role in the reshuffle. While politics is inevitably part of the equation in any cabinet, Nigerians are more interested in results than political calculations. They want ministers who are up to the task, not those who simply owe their positions to loyalty or political expediency. Tinubu must remember that he was elected by the people, and his primary loyalty must be to them, not to any political group or individual.

For ministers who have shown promise but have been placed in ministries that do not suit their skillsets, redeployment may be the best course of action. However, for those who have underperformed across the board, complete replacement is the only logical step. It is not enough to move a failing minister from one ministry to another in the hope that they will suddenly perform better. Competence is not a function of location, but of ability, vision, and leadership.

In fact, the challenges facing Nigeria’s economic sectors require leaders with both the technical expertise and the political will to drive innovation and development. The ministers in charge of ministries responsible for these sectors must be able to address issues facing the sectors, and promote sustainable practices. If the current ministers are not delivering on these fronts, it is time for Tinubu to appoint capable ministers who can.

President Tinubu must ensure that the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the ministers who survived the reshuffle. They must not become complacent, thinking that their positions are secure for the duration of his tenure. Accountability is a continuous process, and the president must make it clear that any minister who fails to meet the expectations of the Nigerian people will be removed, regardless of their political standing.

Public opinion is a powerful tool, and in a democracy, it cannot be ignored. If Nigerians believe that certain ministers are failing them, it is the president’s duty to listen and act. Tinubu’s administration is comparatively still in its early stages, and there is time to course-correct. But time is also running out. The longer non-performing ministers remain in office, the harder it will be to achieve the transformative goals that this administration has set.

Ultimately, President Tinubu must govern with the people’s best interests at heart. The reshuffle is just one part of a broader strategy to improve governance, but it must be done right. Ministers who have been ineffective must be replaced, and those who have shown potential must be placed in positions where they can excel.

Nigerians are watching closely. They expect more than just a cabinet reshuffle; they expect a government that delivers. President Tinubu has the opportunity to prove that he is listening, that he is willing to make the tough decisions necessary to move Nigeria forward. He must not let political loyalty or sentiment stand in the way of progress. The ministers who survived the reshuffle are not beyond scrutiny. The searchlight must stay on, and those who fall short must be held accountable.