Adebayo Shittu Criticizes President Tinubu’s Cabinet Reshuffle as Politically Motivated

 

Former Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu has voiced his dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu's recent cabinet reshuffle, describing it as a politically motivated decision rather than an effort to enhance the Federal Executive Council's (FEC) effectiveness.

In an interview with Channels Television's Politics Today on Thursday, October 24, Shittu reacted to the President’s choice to dismiss five ministers, reassign ten others, and nominate seven new candidates, whose confirmations are still pending in the Senate.

Shittu remarked, “If you look at the changes we had yesterday, I doubt whether it is necessarily bringing in superior minds or better minds, in terms of governance, expectations, and performance.” He emphasized that the reshuffle merely seemed to involve some Nigerians being asked to step aside while others were brought in, without any implication that the departing ministers were less capable.

Since appointing 48 ministers in August 2023, just three months after his inauguration, President Tinubu has faced criticism for their performance amid Nigeria’s economic challenges, rising inflation, and security issues. Shittu described the cabinet changes as a “political ritual” aimed at appeasing dissatisfied citizens, arguing that many appointments in Nigeria are influenced more by political considerations than by merit.

“You’ll agree with me that because of the Nigerian factor, a lot of decisions have political colorations rather than meritocracy in determining who becomes a minister,” he stated. He underscored the necessity for thorough vetting of ministerial nominees by the Senate to ensure that qualified individuals occupy critical roles.

"I would rather prefer that people are taken through a screening process to know their suitability," he said, emphasizing that Nigerians do not have the luxury of time for a learning process in governance.

Shittu did commend the appointment of a civil engineer as the Minister of Works, highlighting how their expertise positively impacts the sector. However, he cautioned against assigning individuals to positions outside their areas of expertise, warning that such decisions could result in inefficiency and hinder progress.