A former presidential spokesman, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s recent cabinet reshuffle.
Okupe described the scrapping of unnecessary ministries as a commendable step towards making the government more compact and effective.
The cabinet reshuffle saw the removal of five ministers, including those from the Women Affairs, Tourism, and Education ministries.
Their positions were filled by seven new appointees, including Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Muhammadu Dingyadi, and Mrs. Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu.
According to Okupe, the removal of ministers was based on performance assessments, with the involvement of KPMG. He noted that this approach was a departure from previous arbitrary or sentimental removals.
The reshuffle also involved the restructuring of several ministries. The Ministry of Nigeria Delta Development was renamed Ministry of Regional Development, overseeing regional development commissions.
The Ministry of Sports Development was dissolved, with its functions transferred to the National Sports Commission.
Okupe expressed optimism that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would reposition the country. He cited Tinubu’s leadership qualities and capacity to tackle Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The cabinet reshuffle is seen as a significant move towards streamlining the government and improving its effectiveness.
The new appointments and restructuring are expected to enhance the administration’s capacity to deliver on its promises to Nigerians.
Okukpe said: “President Tinubu has done the needful by his mid-term rejig of his cabinet.
“Scrapping superfluous ministries is in line with removing waste and making government compact and effective, this is commendable.
“For the first time, removal of ministers from the cabinet has not been arbitrary or sentimental, apart from an in-house key performance index report.
“KPMG is also said to be involved in critical performance assessment of the ministers.”
He expressed hope in the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reposition the country.
“As I have personally stated in the past, President Tinubu has the capacity and leadership qualities to take Nigeria out of the economic quagmire he met on assumption of office in May 2023,” Okupe said.
