Former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Dr. Wunmi Bewaji, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove more underperforming ministers, suggesting that despite a recent cabinet reshuffle, ineffective officials still remain in the administration.
President Tinubu recently made significant changes to his cabinet, dismissing six ministers, appointing seven new ones, and reassigning portfolios for ten others. Bewaji, however, described the reshuffle as overdue and noted that it should be the first step, not the last.
In an interview with Tribune, Bewaji remarked, “A cabinet reshuffle was long overdue, but I believe what we’ve seen is only the beginning. There are still a lot of dead woods in the administration that must be shown the way out.”
When assessing the administration’s policies and their impact, Bewaji emphasized the challenges Tinubu’s reforms face, given what he described as Nigeria’s deep-seated financial troubles. “The quality of the reforms initiated cannot materialize overnight because we have a systemic failure in Nigeria’s finances,” he explained.
Reflecting on past administrations, Bewaji criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, claiming it “squandered” resources. “During Jonathan’s era, oil sold as high as $140 per barrel, and Nigeria was producing up to 2.5 million barrels daily, but we squandered everything. The excess crude account was depleted; Nigeria’s foreign reserve was depleted,” he stated. Bewaji suggested that if Tinubu’s predecessor, President Buhari, had implemented similar reforms, Nigeria might not be in its current economic situation.
Bewaji’s comments add to the growing debate on Tinubu’s recent cabinet adjustments, with some calling for continued restructuring to enhance government effectiveness.
