Ex-Minister Shittu questions political motives behind cabinet

Former Minister Adebayo Shittu has suggested that President Bola Tinubu‘s recent cabinet reshuffle was more politically motivated than aimed at bringing in superior talent to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Shittu expressed doubt over the changes, which saw the dismissal of five ministers, the reassignment of 10, and the nomination of seven new ministers awaiting Senate confirmation.

Shittu, who served under Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, downplayed the idea that the reshuffle was driven by merit or performance improvement. “I doubt whether it is necessarily bringing in superior minds or better minds,” Shittu remarked, adding that the shake-up appeared to be a case of political manoeuvring rather than a focus on governance or performance.

The cabinet reshuffle came just over a year after Tinubu appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, following his inauguration as Nigeria’s president. Since then, Tinubu has faced growing criticism over his ministers’ performance, particularly in the face of Nigeria’s struggling economy, rising inflation, and worsening security situation.

Responding to these pressures, Tinubu acted by removing five ministers and reassigning 10 others, while nominating seven fresh candidates. However, Shittu dismissed the reshuffle as a “political ritual” aimed at appeasing dissatisfied citizens rather than improving the quality of governance.

He argued that political considerations often outweigh merit in Nigeria’s ministerial appointments. “You’ll agree with me that because of the Nigerian factor, a lot of decisions have political colourations than meritocracy in determining who becomes a minister,” he said.

Shittu also called for thorough Senate screening of the new ministerial nominees, stressing the importance of ensuring candidates are fit for their roles. He highlighted the example of the Minister of Works, a civil engineer, whose technical background has positively impacted his performance.

“Nigerians don’t have too much time for a trial-and-error process,” he cautioned, urging the government to prioritize competence over politics in future appointments.