Civil society organisations (CSOs) have called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the severe economic hardships facing Nigerians, asserting that the much-publicized cabinet reshuffle has done little to alleviate the country’s pressing challenges.
According to the CSOs, critical issues such as soaring petroleum prices, the rapidly depreciating naira, escalating food costs, and widespread insecurity are at the heart of the nation’s tension and need immediate attention.
Speaking with Vanguard in separate interviews, the CSOs emphasized that the reshuffling of ministers has not sparked much public interest, as Nigerians are more concerned with the dire economic situation.
Reshuffle Isn’t Gaining Public Interest – ANEEJ
The Executive Director of the African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), said, “The President has the legitimate right to reshuffle his cabinet if performance is lacking, and to appoint capable hands that can help him deliver results. However, the current economic situation is pretty dire, and the public is not pleased. If you were to gauge public opinion, you’d find that most citizens are frustrated and expect swift action, particularly to address the skyrocketing petroleum prices that have impacted the entire economy.”
He added, “The removal of the oil subsidy was supposed to solve the fiscal crisis, but that hasn’t materialized, and the way the government has handled the situation has failed to gain public trust. The identity crisis at the NNPC further complicates the matter. Is it truly a private company or still under government control? This is why the cabinet reshuffle has not attracted significant attention; it doesn’t address the root problems. Only President Tinubu, as Petroleum Minister, can tackle these issues.”
Reshuffle Won’t Fix Core Issues – ActionAid
Similarly, Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, shared his views: “While I agree that change is necessary, simply reshuffling the cabinet will not resolve the fundamental challenges facing Nigerians. Policy inconsistencies and governance that lacks impact are the real issues. A change in ministers won’t be effective unless it comes with a shift in the ideology that drives this administration.”
Mamedu highlighted the economic hardship, noting, “At the moment, a bag of rice now averages N100,000, pushing Nigerians further into poverty. Reshuffling alone won’t solve this.”
Cabinet Choices Missed the Mark – Jet FarmsNG
In agreement, the Team Lead at Jet FarmsNG, Jerry Olanrewaju, said: “A reshuffle is absolutely necessary, but it should be done with more urgency. The president’s initial cabinet choices missed the mark—some appointments were clearly based on sentiment, not qualifications, and this has contributed to our current challenges.”
Olanrewaju added, “It’s not just about choosing new ministers, it’s about appointing capable leaders who can manage crises effectively. The president also needs to ensure that Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are made public, so the citizens can assess who is performing and who isn’t.”
He also pointed out that new ministers could potentially change the narrative: “The ministers of Interior, Digital Innovation, Trade and Investment, and possibly Budget and Finance have the potential for transformation. But others are questionable, and it’s essential to evaluate their performance over the next few months to see if they can truly handle their roles.”
