Tinubu adamant, says “looking for efficiency and effectiveness” – not reducing the cost of governance
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bola Tinubu gave his first media chat as President on Monday evening in Lagos, touching on a wide range of issues, from the current food stampede deaths, to the historical fuel subsidy removal palaver, and the jumbo size of his cabinet now even increased by two.
He was adamant that he will not reduce the size his cabinet of 50 members – having last month sacked five and brought in seven new ones – despite calls to cut down the cost of governance, saying the philosophy is about efficiency.
He said he is was not looking at the number of people in his cabinet but how they could deliver the tasks assigned to them.
With the recent cabinet reshuffle and appointment of new Ministers, Tinubu now pilots the affairs of Nigeria with 50 Ministers, up from the original 48, a record since the return to democracy in 1999 and the largest number in Nigeria’s history.
Said he: “I’m not prepared to bring down the size of my cabinet. One, I saw the need when I put them together. You don’t give somebody an assignment that they cannot fulfil. No,” per reporting by Nigerian Tribune.
“Job description must be efficient and effective. Nigeria is a large country.
“Let’s pay attention to efficiency. Efficiency and effectiveness are the hallmarks of the philosophy behind that cabinet. I’m not ready to shrink a little bit of it.”
Asked if all his Ministers are adding value, he challenged the interviewers to point to one cabinet member who is not delivering.
“Effectively. Show me one and I will argue with you. Let’s pay attention to efficiency. I’m not ready to reduce my cabinet.”
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