Tinubu says he’s not ready to downsize his cabinet
President Bola Tinubu on Monday firmly responded to critics who described his cabinet as “bloated,” stating that he is not prepared to reduce the size of his 48-member cabinet.
During a media chat at his Bourdillon residence in Lagos, Tinubu explained, “I am not ready to shrink” the size of the cabinet, emphasizing that “efficiency” was the key criterion in selecting ministers.
The president also defended his controversial decision to remove the petrol subsidy in May 2023, asserting that it was necessary for Nigeria’s future. “We were just deceiving ourselves, and that reform was necessary,” he said, adding that the country could no longer continue subsidizing petrol for neighboring nations.
Tinubu appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, and the Senate quickly confirmed them. Since then, there have been calls for a reshuffle, with some Nigerians dissatisfied with the performance of certain ministers amidst rising inflation, economic challenges, and security concerns.
In October 2024, the president reassigned 10 ministers to new portfolios, appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation, and sacked five others. Despite these changes, critics argue that the cabinet remains too large, particularly with the creation of a new Livestock Ministry.
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