Indications emerged on Monday that some of the Ministers are in a panic mood over the looming cabinet reshuffle.
Recall that Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had recently hinted at the possible cabinet reshuffle, where those found not to be active and adding value to the Renewed Hope Agenda, will be shown the exit door.
There have been pockets of criticism on the present crop of Ministers as some critics claim that the majority of them are said to be occupying such sensitive positions on grounds of political patronage.
Before President Bola Tinubu announced his cabinet, there were high expectations that technocrats would constitute the majority of his cabinet.
Sources close to the Presidency had claimed that before the President travelled to the United Kingdom for his two weeks vacation, a list containing the performances of the Ministers had been compiled by Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman, who is the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination and head of Central Delivery Coordination Unit.
One of the sources said that Mrs Usman has the onerous task of compiling the performances of the Ministers and that she has diligently done her work.
According to the source, “some of the Ministers are jittery and have tried to lobby her but she is not the kind of person to be manipulated. She is a strict and thorough person right from the time she was the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority.
“The President is going to rejig his cabinet to bring fresh hands that will help to translate his Renewed Hope Agenda into a complete reality.”
Meanwhile, President Tinubu was said to have had a marathon meeting yesterday with Mrs. Usman in his office in Aso Rock. Also sighted at the Villa with the President was the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Zaccheus Adedeji, who doubles as Special Adviser to the President on Revenue and the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi.
It was reliably gathered that the National Security Adviser, NSA Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa were earlier in the President’s office.
A presidential source said, “it’s expected that before the end of the week, the President will announce a cabinet reshuffle.”
The source further said, “There is going to be a Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting on Wednesday which may be a valedictory meeting for some of the Ministers except if the President decides to change his mind and delay the announcement.”
