KEY POINTS
- Tinubu appoints seven new ministers.
- Ministry of Sports is dissolved and merged elsewhere.
- Inflation spikes to 32.7%, sparking criticism.
According to a spokesperson on Wednesday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu reorganised his 45-member cabinet, adding seven new ministers, firing five, and shifting ten others to other positions.
Ministers of finance and defense retain roles
The national planning, defence, finance, and two junior energy ministers were all kept in their posts during the reshuffle. However, the reorganisation, which represents the president’s most recent attempt to improve his administration, had an impact on some important ministries.
To reflect a wider mandate to concentrate on regional growth outside of the Niger Delta, the Ministry of Niger Delta Development was renamed the Ministry of Regional Development as part of the restructuring. The Ministry of Tourism was combined with the Ministry of Arts and Culture, while the Ministry of Sports was disbanded, its functions probably being taken over by other government agencies.
Since assuming office last year, Tinubu’s reform agenda has been a defining characteristic of his presidency, originally raising hopes that his administration would solve Nigeria’s growing economic problems. Nigeria, the biggest oil producer in Africa, confronts several economic challenges, such as fuel subsidies and unstable currency. Tinubu’s initial actions, such as depreciating the naira and reducing subsidies for power and gasoline, were viewed as audacious attempts to restructure the economy.
Inflation surges amid Tinubu’s economic reforms
But 16 months into his presidency, those initiatives have contributed to a worsening cost-of-living issue and skyrocketing inflation, which hit 32.7%. Critics contend that although the reforms were required, they have overburdened common Nigerians, who are finding it difficult to keep up with the mounting costs.
According to Reuters, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga stated in his explanation of the reorganisation that Tinubu had named junior ministers for foreign affairs, education, and housing in addition to new ministers for labour, livestock development, commerce and investment, and humanitarian and poverty alleviation. According to Onanuga, the cabinet changes included the removal of the junior housing minister and the ministries of education, tourism, women’s affairs, and youth development.
The size of Tinubu’s cabinet is still greater than that of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who had 43 ministers during his second term, despite requests from opponents to simplify the administration and cut bureaucracy. According to Nigeria’s constitution, the president is required to name at least one minister from each of the 36 states that make up the nation.
Although there are now two junior ministers in charge of that ministry, Tinubu has not yet named a vital player in his administration: the petroleum minister.
