Honest Assessment of Tinubu’s Ministers

Obinna Chima

Next Thursday will make it two years since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office and promised Nigerians bold reforms, decisive leadership under his ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda. While he has not disappointed in terms of the reforms, his ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra, however, fills the air more than anything and may choke Nigerians with the way it is being echoed by most of his Ministers in speeches at any ceremony they find themselves. A lot of them keep chanting ‘Renewed Hope’ without backing it with results.

Ultimately, the performance of President Tinubu’s Ministers serves as a direct reflection of his administration’s effectiveness. That is why it is important for us to evaluate the contributions of his Ministers as he prepares to mark his second year in office.

The President has 48 ministers, the largest since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. While the first set of Ministers was sworn in, in August 2023, calls for a cabinet rejig saw him reshuffle the Ministers the following year, and some others were sworn in in November 2024, and a few were sacked.

I do not envy Hadiza Bala-Usman, the President’s Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU). As someone saddled with the responsibility of assessing and grading the ministers based on their performance, she stands at the confluence of political scrutiny, public expectation, and bureaucratic resistance. The weight of her responsibilities is immense. Tasked with objectively assessing the effectiveness of these big men and women in a highly politicised environment, she must navigate a labyrinth of vested interests, underperformance, and public impatience — all while preserving credibility and institutional integrity. The pressure is not only intense—it is unrelenting. I fully appreciate the formidable challenges faced by the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, given that many of the individuals she must evaluate are former governors, ex-federal lawmakers, and ego-filled billionaires.

With a few days to his second year as President, it is important to assess how these men and his ministers have fared. This assessment stems from interactions with Nigerians across the country. From Ekeremor in Bayelsa, to Ojo Local Government in Lagos, Ohaji in Imo State, Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory, Marte in Borno, Jibia in Katsina, and Kaltungo in Gombe, Nigerians have stressed the need for a lot of the Ministers to do more, while commending the high-flyers.

The Bright Spots

Hate or love his combative style of politics, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has undeniably delivered on several fronts. He is reviving long-abandoned infrastructure projects, enforcing urban development regulations, and injecting a renewed sense of urgency into the FCT’s administration. His leadership style may polarise opinion, but his results are difficult to ignore. His leadership of the Ministry has been marked by rapid development, extensive road rehabilitation, urban expansion, and a commitment to executing long-overdue projects. 

For Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, since assuming office, he has continued to give the aviation sector a facelift and despite challenges in the sector, he has remained committed to revamping airport infrastructure, has prioritised safety standards, and has been pushing forward long-overdue reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s air transport system. Unlike his immediate predecessor, who had a frosty relationship with domestic airline operators, Keyamo has been a strong advocate and supporter of operators of domestic carriers.

Equally, since assuming office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has made notable efforts to bolster Nigeria’s foreign policy. He is reinvigorating the country’s diplomatic relations, pursuing economic diplomacy, and repositioning the country on key global platforms. While his approach reflects a renewed commitment to proactive engagement, tangible outcomes in terms of trade partnerships, diaspora engagement, and global influence are still unfolding and will require sustained strategy and coordination.

In the same vein, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has championed digital inclusion and fostered tech innovation through strategic partnerships, and laying the groundwork for a more robust digital economy since his appointment. He recently disclosed that the sector has witnessed massive growth under Tinubu, attracting $191 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2024—a ninefold increase from $22 million in Q1 2023. However, industry stakeholders emphasise the need for faster policy implementation, broader internet penetration in underserved regions, and sustained support for local tech talent to ensure long-term impact.

Also, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun is spearheading fiscal reforms aimed at reducing the country’s budget deficit, improving revenue generation, and promoting transparency in public finance. He has been one of the most impressive. He has carefully coordinated the three phases of the President’s reform agenda that include, first removing major economic distortions in the economy through petrol subsidy and forex liberalisation, then the pursuit of macroeconomic stability, and now focused on a medium term rapid, sustained, and inclusive growth, with a target of seven percent. The recent upgrade by Fitch and growing investors’ confidence in the Nigerian economy are a testament to his relentless pursuit of macroeconomic stability necessary for future growth, jobs, and reduction in poverty. Edun is also focused on the critical role of private sector investment in Nigeria’s growth target in the medium.

For want of editorial space, others in this category of performing Ministers include the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare – Muhammad Ali Pate; Minister of Information and National Orientation – Mohammed Idris Malagi; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation – Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Solid Minerals Development – Dele Alake, and Minister of Works – Dave Umahi.

Not Pulling Their Weight

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, a first-class accountant who has deep banking experience, is a round peg in a square hole. He is a classical example of engaging a plumber to fix a damaged car. Adelabu would have done better in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment or even in Finance. In almost two years, his comments have largely centred on buck passing, blaming every other group(s) for his inability to improve the sector. If he is not blaming the past administration, it is the power distribution companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, or even vandals. He is obsessed with the idea that suffering Nigerians need to pay more for electricity. Unfortunately, I see no improvement in sight as in the coming days his ambition to govern Oyo State will further distract him from his ministerial assignment.

Similarly, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has no doubt done a lot to improve the passport application and collection process since he assumed office. He has gotten tremendous applause in this aspect of his job. Unfortunately, he has done very little to address internal security and the poor state of the Nigerian Correctional Services, which are also his responsibilities. He should be disturbed by the number of jailbreaks under his watch. The horrific conditions prevailing in Nigerian prisons degrade humanity such that after spending long jail terms, inmates come out as hardened criminals. Besides, over the years, the provision of welfare services to inmates in Nigerian prisons has been far from satisfactory.

Equally, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who laces almost everything about the Ministry with the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra, continues to outline ambitious plans for affordable housing and urban renewal. However, beyond policy announcements and ground-breaking ceremonies, tangible progress on large-scale housing delivery remains limited. This raises concerns about the gap between rhetoric and real impact in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit.

Other Ministers under this category who are yet to take advantage of the low-hanging fruits around their Ministries include the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security – Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy – Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning – Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Defence – Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Education – Tunji Alausa; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment – Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation – Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) – Heineken Lokpobiri; Minister of Steel Development – Shuaibu Audu; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) – Ekperikpe Ekpo, and the Minister of Youth – Ayodele Olawande.

Sleeping Ministers

A troubling aspect of this administration is the near-total silence from some of the ministers. Some of them are colourless, underwhelming, and disturbingly passive in the face of pressing national challenges. Some of them have not demonstrated the kind of leadership required to drive meaningful change in their respective Ministries. Some have become invisible figures in the public space, offering the usual ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra on any pulpit they mount and photo ops.

The leading figure among them is the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji. Nnaji has been largely absent from public discourse to the extend that a lot of persons mistake Bosun Tijani as the person in charge of his Ministry. At a time when Nigeria desperately needs forward-thinking leadership to harness technology for national development, his performance has been underwhelming. Many observers view his tenure so far as disappointing, marked by a lack of visibility and measurable progress. Nnaji has remained colourless and far from inspiring.

Others in this category are the Minister of Environment – Balarabe Abbas Lawal; Minister of Labour and Employment – Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi; Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs – Zephaniah Jisalo; Minister of Transportation – Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali; Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation – Joseph Utsev, and Minister of Women Affairs – Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

Fierce Urgency for Performance

President Tinubu must be reminded that history is kinder to leaders who prioritise performance over political loyalty. The Nigerian people, who endure daily hardship, cannot afford more years of mediocrity. Cabinet reshuffles should be on the table, not as a political tool, but as a performance audit mechanism. It is not enough to be loyal to the President; loyalty to the people must come first. That is why the President must encourage Hadiza Bala-Usman and her team by implementing the outcome of their evaluation of the respective Ministers. Nigeria needs ministers who are innovative and willing to do the heavy lifting to propel economic growth and national progress. Ministers who produce tangible results should be encouraged and those who, according to Afrobeats singer, Davido, are full of “cho cho cho, no workings,” should be shown the exit door.