President Bola Tinubu has firmly stated that he is not prepared to reduce the size of his cabinet. He made this clear during his first presidential media chat on Monday, addressing concerns about the cost of governance and calls to shrink his cabinet.
Responding to a question about whether he plans to reduce the size of his cabinet to cut governance costs, President Tinubu explained his rationale for assembling a large team, emphasising that it was a strategic decision to ensure optimal performance and delivery of his administration’s goals.
“I’m not prepared to bring down the size of my cabinet,” the President said. “I saw the need when I put them together. You don’t give somebody an assignment that they cannot fulfill. No. Nigeria is a large country.”
The President reiterated that his focus is on achieving efficiency and effectiveness, which he described as the guiding principles behind the composition of his cabinet. He noted that the structure of his team was carefully designed to address the nation’s complex challenges, adding that the nation’s population plays a role in the cabinet size.
“Let’s pay attention to efficiency. Efficiency and effectiveness are the hallmark of the philosophy behind that cabinet. I’m not ready to shrink a little bit of it. I need them,” Tinubu asserted.
He added, “If you are to entertain over 200 million, just on entertainment, calculate how many stewards you will require. That’s just for entertainment, not the cleaners.”
While acknowledging concerns about governance costs, the President’s response underscores his belief that a well-structured and capable team is crucial for achieving his administration’s objectives. His comments suggest that he intends to prioritise performance and results over downsizing, viewing his current cabinet structure as necessary for the tasks ahead.
However, this position is likely to generate debate among Nigerians, especially those advocating for leaner government structures to address economic challenges.
Melissa Enoch
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