President Bola Tinubu yesterday restricted ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies of the Federal Government to a maximum of three vehicles in their official convoys, saying no additional vehicles would be assigned to them for movement.
This came as the Presidency explained late Wednesday night that Nigerians’ perception played a key role in the President’s decision to rejig his cabinet.
The President’s new directive was contained in his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy statement, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, “the cost-cutting measure was announced today (yesterday) in a statement by the President.”
Recall that in January this year, President Tinubu took steps to reduce government expenditures by reducing his entourage on foreign trips from 50 to 20 officials and on local trips to 25 officials.
Similarly, he reduced the Vice President’s entourage to five officials on foreign trips and 15 for local trips.
In the directive issued yesterday, President Tinubu also ordered all ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies to have at most five security personnel attached to them.
The security team, according to him, will comprise four police officers and one Department of State Services, DSS, officer.
He said: “No additional security personnel will be assigned.”
The President also instructed the National Security Adviser, NSA, to engage with the military, paramilitary and security agencies to determine a suitable reduction in their vehicle and security personnel deployment.
“All affected officials are expected to comply with these new measures immediately, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of these changes,” the statement added.
Also, following the removal, appointment and redeployment of some members of the Federal Executive Council, NEC, on Wednesday, the Presidency has said the President’s decision was influenced by Nigerians’ perceptions.
This is even as indications emerged yesterday the reason the President retained some key cabinet members, despite multiple media speculations of their rumoured removal.
The President also yesterday wrote the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of appointments of seven ministerial nominees announced in Abuja on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Tinubu reassigned 10 ministers to new portfolios, relieved five of their duties, and nominated seven new nominees for Senate confirmation.
The President also renamed the Ministry of Niger Delta Development as the Ministry of Regional Development, scrapped the Ministry of Sports Development, and merged the Ministries of Tourism and Arts and Culture, forming the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
Those dismissed include the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman; Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim; and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo.
How feedback shaped Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle
Providing more details on the cabinet reshuffle in an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday night, Mr Onanuga, explained that the decision to remove the affected ministers was based on public perception and empirical data.
According to him, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, introduced a technological system that allowed Nigerians to assess the performance of the ministers.
He said: “It wasn’t done arbitrarily. Hadiza Bala Usman brought in technology, asking Nigerians to rate the ministers. So, the removal of these ministers was based on empirical facts, shaped by public perception.
“The scorecards were filled out by the people, and the President acted on those results.
“It wasn’t just about meeting the President’s expectations but also the public. A few weeks ago, during a cabinet meeting, the President urged the ministers to inform Nigerians of their accomplishments because, according to him, there is public perception that the government wasn’t performing.
“The government believed it was, but the ministers weren’t effect-ively communicating their work.’’
Onanuga further mentioned that in addition to dismissing the ministers, the administration was working to reduce the cost of governance.
FG’s expenditure will be reduced soon
“The President will soon announce measures to reduce government expenditure, starting with the ministers. I don’t want to pre-empt the details, but the cuts will be significant to demonstrate the government’s seriousness in reducing the cost of governance.
“The government is aware of what’s required to address the country’s challenges. It’s not about the size of the government, but about having many competent hands to drive its agenda.
“You will hear announcements soon about how the government plans to cut the cost of running its affairs,” the Presidential aide said.
Why Matawalle wasn’t sacked
He also clarified that allegations linking the Minister of State (Defence), Alhaji Bello Matawalle, to the spate of banditry in the North-West were untrue.
Onanuga said Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, was not sacked because the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, investigated allegations bordering on his ties to bandits and found them spurious.
He said the allegations against Matawalle were “mere fabrication” and politically motivated.
“As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations. In one of them, I got something like that and sent it to the NSA and asked: ‘Have you heard about this?” The president’s aide said.
Continuing, Onanuga said: ‘’The NSA said ‘No. We have probed a lot of those things; they are not true. People are just bringing out all kinds of fake things and allegations. That is why the man (Matawalle) is still in the cabinet.
“The president, I’m sure, has heard many stories about him. For him to be there shows that… like I have said, some of those things have been probed; they are not true.
“The NSA office has already investigated some of those allegations. They are mere fabrications.”
Why Tinubu retained Gbaja, Edun, Olubunmi-Ojo, others
Meanwhile, contrary to widespread media speculations a few weeks ago about the President removing 11 ministers and reshuffling the presidency’s top leadership, it was gathered that the changes began with the replacement of Tinubu’s Chief Security Officer, Adegboyega Fasasi.
Multiple sources told Vanguard that the reorganization, highly anticipated before Tinubu’s two-week holiday, retained several key officials previously rumoured for removal, including his Chief of Staff, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Budget and Planning Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo; Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar; Minister of State, Defence, Bello Matawalle, and other ministers whose continued presence “reflects the President’s confidence in them.”
Also, key economic team members, including Finance Minister Wale Edun; Budget and Planning Minister, Atiku Bagudu; and Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu; retained their positions, following their scorecards.
Another source disclosed that the retention of Mr Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff came, despite “intense speculation about his replacement.”
The source said: “Gbajabiamila has weathered recurring media attacks and once received public support from the President himself at a cabinet meeting where he reaffirmed his confidence in his Chief of Staff.
“His survival of numerous media trials is likely due to the sensitivity of his office and his experience as former speaker of the House of Representatives. The same speculation goes for Wale Edun, Bagudu and Adelabu.’’
Another Presidency source said: “The earlier speculation about Wale Edun’s replacement with the Tax Reform Committee Chairman, Taiwo Oyedele, was particularly unfounded, including the suggestion that the President planned to remove the Interior Minister who has got good appraisals everywhere and the biggest joke was the speculation that the President contemplated removing his Chief of Staff, except for those who do not know the premium the President places on Gbaja, let alone their longstanding ties.”
On why the president decided to retain them, the source said: “It was based on the President’s discretion.”
Asked whether there will be further cabinet reshuffle, another source said: “I don’t know but it appears everything has been done, except for ambassadorial and board positions.”
It was further gathered that a significant highlight of the rejig is the appointment of Mrs Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
“This appointment, seen as a strategic move towards national inclusion, has been widely praised as a gesture of reconciliation and recognition of the South-East in the Federal Government.
“As the widow of the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegu-Ojukwu, her appointment signals the administration’s commitment to national unity and inclusive governance,” multiple sources told Vanguard.
Retaining Keyamo reflects Tinubu’s commitment to aviation growth — AON
Speaking on the President’s decision to retain Mr Festus Keyamo as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, yesterday, said it reflected Tinubu’s commitment to the growth and advancement of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
President of AON, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Sarina, in a statement, said Keyamo has demonstrated exceptional leadership, setting a new standard for the aviation sector.
Sarina stated that the minister’s efforts in ensuring compliance with international standards facilitated greater access to aircraft financing and leasing.
The statement read: “Since his initial appointment, Keyamo has demonstrated exceptional leadership, setting a new standard for the aviation sector.
“His relentless efforts and advocacy for policies that ensure ease of doing business have brought about significant positive changes. AON members are proud to affirm that, under his stewardship, we have never had it this good.
“His proactive engagements with the industry, his focus on safety, and his commitment to the success of both local and international airlines have restored confidence in the sector. He has the best interests of the nation and the aviation sector at heart.
“The reappointment of Keyamo stands as a testament to President Tinubu’s vision of excellence and progress for Nigeria. We believe every government is ultimately judged by the calibre of individuals appointed to critical positions.
“In Keyamo, the President has made an outstanding choice, ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation sector remains in capable and visionary hands.
“On behalf of all members of AON, we pledge our continued support for Keyamo as he leads us through this era of unprecedented growth and innovation in the aviation industry.
“We also commend President Tinubu for his remarkable foresight and wisdom in entrusting the future of Nigerian aviation to such an able leader. Together, we are confident that the skies of Nigeria will continue to soar higher, and the country’s aviation sector will remain a beacon of excellence on the African continent.”
Tinubu seeks Senate’s confirmation of 7 ministerial nominees
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of appointments of seven ministerial nominees.
The President’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary yesterday.
According to the letter, the ministerial nominees are Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment; and Bianca Odinaka Odumegu-Ojukwu, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs.
Others include Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Development; Idi Muktar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Ata, Minister of State, Housing; and Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State, Education.
The President in the letter sought expeditious consideration of his request by the Senate.
The Senate President immediately referred the Presidential request to the committee of the whole for consideration.
Akpabio said: “The presidential request is referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration very soon.”
It was, however, gathered that the Senate may, after getting the required documents on the nominees, commence their screening next Wednesday.