President Bola Tinubu has stated he is not considering reducing the size of his cabinet, emphasizing that each member is vital to the administration's success. Since taking office, Tinubu has appointed 48 ministers and reshuffled the cabinet to improve efficiency, despite calls for downsizing.
In his first presidential media chat, President Bola Tinubu stated that he is not considering reducing the size of his cabinet, emphasizing that each member plays a crucial role in fulfilling the administration’s goals. Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu appointed 45 ministers, the highest number of cabinet members since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999. He later increased the cabinet to 48 ministers by adding three more in October 2023.
Tinubu reshuffled his cabinet in 2024, which led to the removal of five ministers, the appointment of seven new ones, and changes in portfolios for 10 others. Despite the reshuffle, Tinubu explained that he had carefully selected each member based on their ability to fulfill their roles efficiently and effectively. He rejected suggestions to downsize the cabinet, arguing that the size is necessary to manage the country’s vast population and complex challenges. The president stated that it is crucial to maintain a cabinet capable of addressing the needs of over 200 million citizens. He also insisted that the effectiveness and efficiency of his cabinet members are key to the success of his administration.
In recent months, there have been some changes in the cabinet, such as the resignation of former Plateau Governor Simon Lalong and the suspension of Minister Betta Edu due to corruption allegations. Despite these changes, Tinubu remains firm in his decision to retain the current cabinet size.
