The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent cabinet reshuffle, labelling it as mere lip service to the Nigerian populace’s demand for substantive governmental improvement.
This sharp critique follows the president’s decision to dismiss five ministers and appoint seven new ones in a move aimed at reinvigorating his administration.
The cabinet reshuffle, announced following a weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, also included merging several ministries as part of a broader administrative overhaul.
However, according to Gabam, these changes fall short of the structural reforms needed to address the challenges facing the nation.
He further advised President Tinubu to concentrate on transforming strategic sectors that directly impact the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians rather than continuing with superficial adjustments.
He said, “Merging ministries or taking out a few ministers wouldn’t bring any noticeable change. He needs to focus on changing the strategic sectors that need immediate action.
“Our consistent advice to this government is to inject capacity. I believe 75 per cent of this cabinet needs to go. The people that surround him (Tinubu) cannot help his government. There is no need to pretend about it.
“You cannot keep having an economic sector that sucks the citizens out with a very draconian policy of taxation like the ministry of finance, inland revenue service and so on at a period when there is over 50 per cent of poverty, unemployment and food shortages ravaging the country. Even the Minister of Agriculture is not effective. In truth, the Ministry of Agriculture needs to be decentralised while the Federal Government works together with each state government on this.
“In the basic area of health challenges, I don’t know of any single facility that has been built as a referral hospital. Yet, Nigeria is the giant of Africa. So, for me, it’s lip service. As I said earlier, 75 per cent of this cabinet is not functioning, and he must bring in competent people irrespective of their parties. He is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His primary responsibility is to elevate the living standards and welfare of Nigerians.”
