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Ministers That Should Not Make Buhari’s New Cabinet

Published

7 years ago

June 15, 2019

Eric

By: Promise Oshewa

Months after he won his second term and weeks after his swearing in, Nigerians are still waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to name his cabinet.

From all indications, Mr President is not going to hit the ground running and all Nigerians want now is if the cabinet is eventually named, they will be first-rate Nigerians.

The former cabinet members have played their part in the last administration and we have gone to town to find out which of these Ministers they do not want to return.

While some where described as inconspicuous, others had strong name recognition but failed in terms of the assignments given.

It shocked many that some of these Ministers were not shown the door in the last four years.

The power to appoint a minister no doubt is constitutionally vested in Mr. President and the crucial responsibilities of a minister are also well stipulated in Section 148 of the 1999 Constitution but what Nigerians are saying is that he must choose the right team to help take Nigeria to the next level.

Here is a list of Ministers who from our findings performed below par and Nigerians would not want them back.

Minister of Defence -Mansur Dan-Ali

A retired General, Mansur Dan-Ali in his heart of hearts knows that he has not been outstanding as the Minister of Defence l.

If there was one thing that many Nigerians believed the Buhari government will do, it was that Nigeria will be very secure.

Unfortunately this has not been the case as there has been lapses in almost all par5s parts of the country.

If it is not Herdsmen clashing with farmers, it is bandits raiding villages or kidnappers taling over major highways like Kaduna-Abuja, Ife-Ibadan and so on.

Even the Boko Haram that the government has done a great job of dealing with are still spreading sorrow, tears and blood with their terrorist

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice -Abubakar Malami

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice should not be returned to office. He has been held responsible for the cases of disobedience of court orders by the government especially in the case of Sheikh El Zaky Zakky and Col Sambo Dasuki (Rtd).

He has also been lambasted for holding on to case files and even stopping some cases which has not gone down with many.

Adebayo Shittu (Minister for Communication)

Mr Adebayo Shittu his controversies apart has not performed in his role as Minister well.

Right from his Ministerial screening at the floor of the Senate, it was obvious that he was not going to shine.

Shittu was at sea during the MTN fine saga and hasn’t articulated a single policy to improve the sector.

Solomon Dalung (Minister of Youth and Sports)

This beret-loving Minister got one of the lowest scores in our survey.

He promised grassroots development and failed, he was busy fighting the sports associations and even became a Minister of Football with his attempt to oust NFF President Amaju Pinnick

Mr Dalung’s tenure will be remebered for bringing the country to shame with the issue of the $135,000 over payment that he refused to return giving outlandish excuses.

Proper organisation and policy formulation weren’t his thing.

Usani Usani Uguru (Minister of Niger Delta)

He’s in pole position to win the most anonymous Minister award alongside several others in Buhari’s team. Sometimes, you wonder if Usani understands the demands of his office.

Instead of facing his work which is so enormous considering the development challenges of the Niger Delta Region, he was busy playing local politics in his home state of Cross River.

His meddlesome attitude was so bad that he was suspended by the ruling APC.

Abdulrahman Dambazau (Minister of Interior):

Like his counterpart in Defence, he has not performed well despite being a former General. The security situation has been his greatest albatross and it seems he has run out of ideas.

He is one of those Ministers that needed to lose weight, apologies to Mr President

Udoma Udo Udoma (Minister of Budget and National Planning):

Despite his sterling resume, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma seems to have punched above his weight with this portfolio.

There’s a feeling that Udoma was at fault for the mess that the 2016 budget became—the mangled numbers and the padding happened on his watch. In saner climes, he should have tendered his resignation after the budget fiasco.

He has not changed the budgeting process in four years and there is a thinking that he should have been given a different role in the cabinet

Mohammed Bello (FCT Minister):

Muhammed Musa Bello is only visible on the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,each time the President is on his way in or out of the country.

FCT residents still remember Nasir El-Rufai’sdays as Minister of the capital city with nostalgia—an indication that Bello has been a ghost Minister.

Around Abuja, no one has really felt his impact and they would wish that he steps aside

Chief Audu Ogbe

Chief Audu Ogbe if you compare him to his predecessor, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina has not done us any good.

His acclaimed revolution in agriculture has only been in the books not in reality. The elder statesman has not increased the exports of our products as he promised and even the Yam export is hindered by an Export Prohibitive Act that he should have worked with the National Assembly with to abolish.

Mallam Adamu Adamu

Mallam Adamu Adamu, the Education Minister is one of the ministers who may likely be retained in the cabinet but Nigerians are begging Mr President to resist temptation.

The Bauchi State born politician was a columnist before he joined the cabinet and has been a close associate of the President right from the Petroleum Task Fund, PTF but has failed woefully as a minster.

The public secondary and tertiary institutions have not improved under his watch. He has added nothing to the Ministry in terms of innovation.

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu

Dr. Onu who is the current Minister of Science and Technology who has not done well.

By now with the right direction, we should be on the way to competing with the rest of the world but this Minister seem to just be marking time

Hadi Sarika

Hadi Sirika is the Minister of State for Aviation. He has received commendations for some remarkable achievements but the state of the flagship airport, Murtala Muhammed International Airport has dented his CV big time.

If he cannot upgrade the MMIA in four years he has no business in the ministry, one angry passenger told us.

DR Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour

The Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige has been one of those good men who have fallen flat. Under him, there has been too many spats with labour unions and if not for the election would have had the longest labour shutdown in recent memory.

Dr Isaac Adewole

Minister of health is one of those Ministers who has failed to live up to expectations.Just a walk to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital is enough to send him packing.

He has not done anything significant despite being a stakeholder.

Hon. Heineken Loikpobiri: Minister of State, Agriculture

Like the other ministers of State, he was just there without any achievement or ideas to affect the sector.

Featured

Apapa Tanker Accident: Scooping Spilled Fuel is Suicidal, Sanwo-Olu Warns Lagos Residents

Published

8 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Eric

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the scooping of fuel by residents at the Apapa Bridge as a “suicide mission,” warning that the Lagos State Government will intensify enforcement to prevent actions capable of triggering mass casualties.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on Monday at the signing of the 2026 Appropriation Bill at the Lagos House, Ikeja, shortly after reports emerged of residents rushing to scoop spilled fuel from a tanker incident at Apapa.

He expressed disappointment at the conduct, stressing that such behaviour places lives at grave risk.

The governor commended the swift intervention of Lagos first responders and the police, who cordoned off the area and brought the situation under control before any explosion or disaster could occur.

He cautioned residents to desist from reckless acts, noting that the State would “leave no stone unturned” in safeguarding lives and property.

Linking the incident to broader issues of indiscipline, Sanwo-Olu said the government would enforce tougher penalties against environmental and safety violations, including indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road medians.

He disclosed that the 2026 budget makes provisions to strengthen the capacity of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and private sector participants, with plans to expand compactor truck fleets and deploy additional equipment.

“We have instructed LAWMA not only to apprehend offenders but also to ensure they are charged for environmental violations,” the governor said.

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2027: Oyegun Welcomes Edo Obidient Movement into ADC

Published

14 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Eric

National Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief John Oyegun, on Monday, said a new Nigeria is possible with the calibre of people joining the party.

Oyegun spoke in Benin at the mass entry of the members of the Obidient Movement into the ADC.

The former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress stressed that the Obedient Movement’s entry into the party in the State is a sign that the people are ready to join the struggle for a leadership change.

Oyegun, who noted that he is happy that the Obidient movement is joining the ADC, added: “A new Nigeria is truly possible. A few days ago, I was in the hall when a colourful and important personality, Dele Momodu, joined us.

“Today is the first time I saw youths who were committed to the nation-building. It is my first time meeting members of the Obidient Movement in this number. We are convinced that the youth of this country are ready.

“You have decided to take up the struggle yourself by joining the ADC. I am happy. I want to say that from the day the coalition came together, I have been convinced that we are on the right path.”

“I am sure you are not happy with what is happening in Nigeria and Edo State. Remember that the chairman said our one target is to save the country. We must start to make sure that, through the ADC, we make a new Nigeria possible.”

The State coordinator of Obidient Movement, Asemota Idiogbe, described ADC as the right party to battle APC in Edo and Nigeria.

He stated that he expects Peter Obi to become the party’s flagbearer and, eventually, the president of the country.

He said: “This is the right party to battle the APC in Edo and Nigeria. The ADC will take over Edo and the country. We expect Peter Obi to be the president. We are here to improve the party, not to ask for positions.

“We will influence the masses to vote for the ADC. The party is for people who want a better Nigeria. I want to let you know that the current leaders were the ones who made the Labour Party thick. Now that we have fused into the ADC, Labour is no more.

“We don’t share money to mobilise people. We are self-funded. Some of those who won on our platform betrayed us and joined the APC.”

State Chairman of the party, Kenneth Odion, commended the Obidient Movement for joining the ADC, noting that the party was poised to do well in the next election.

Featured

Army Dismisses Mutiny Threat Against Tinubu’s Govt

Published

14 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Eric

The Nigerian Army has dismissed as false and misleading an online report alleging threats of mutiny by soldiers over salaries and allowances, describing the claim as sensational and detrimental to national security.

The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, said there has been no threat of mutiny within the Nigerian Army.

Anele said that such conduct is alien to its ethos, discipline and professionalism.

She said mutiny is a grave offence under military law and incompatible with the loyalty of Nigerian Army personnel to the Constitution and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Anele explained that the report relied on anonymous and unverifiable claims circulated through non-official channels, which did not reflect the views or disposition of officers and soldiers who were trained to address grievances through established military procedures.

Anele clarified that promotion increments is only one component of military pay and should not be misrepresented as total earnings.

According to her, military remuneration includes consolidated salaries, rank-based allowances, operational, field and hardship allowances, as well as other entitlements that vary based on deployment, qualifications and responsibilities.

She said the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria and relevant government authorities, is implementing structured welfare reforms, including periodic reviews of salaries and allowances, enhanced operational incentives, improved accommodation, medical care and insurance packages for troops and their families.

The army spokesperson added that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, had, since assuming office, initiated constructive engagements with relevant authorities on troop welfare, with positive outcomes already emerging.

Anele reaffirmed that the Federal government, under President Bola Tinubu, remains committed to the welfare and operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces amid evolving security challenges.

She urged the public to disregard unfounded reports and rely on official communication channels for accurate information on the Nigerian Army.