President Bola Tinubu held a private meeting with his Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, raising concerns of an imminent cabinet reshuffle. Bala-Usman, who heads the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, is responsible for assessing ministers’ performance to determine which may be retained or dismissed.
Before his two-week vacation, President Tinubu hinted at an impending cabinet reshuffle, which was expected to be announced during his Independence Day address but was delayed. However, with his return over the weekend, there are signs that the long-anticipated reshuffle could happen soon, leaving several ministers on edge.
Sources suggest Bala-Usman had compiled a performance assessment of ministers before Tinubu’s trip to the UK, contributing to growing tension within the cabinet. The extended meeting at Aso Rock Villa, which also involved Zacchaeus Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and Minister of Works Dave Umahi, has fueled speculation of major changes.
A Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, and there are expectations that some ministers may bid farewell unless the President decides to postpone the reshuffle. A presidential source indicated that the announcement could come before the end of the week.
