President Bola Tinubu has cleared the air on reasons his cabinet is having so much ministers compared to previous administrations.
The president explained that the 47 ministers in his cabinet reflect the diversity of roles required to run an efficient government.
He said this when he received a delegation of the Chriatian Association of Nigeria, led by its President, Daniel Okoh, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu acknowledged criticisms over his heavily-staffed cabinet. However, he said merging portfolios would only heap some officials with more burdens than they can bear, according to the Punch.
“If you combine too many ministries because you want to save money, you will have a future of non-performance and no results,” Tinubu said.
It is also worthy of note that former President Muhammadu Buhari had 36 ministers in his first tenure and later increased it to 42 in his second term.
While ex-president Goodluck Jonathan named 33 ministerial-nominees, retaining nine persons from the Yar’Adua administration, in 2011, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua only appointed 39 persons into his cabinet.
Also, former president Olusegun Obasanjo initially named 42 ministers in 1999 but later shed two roles. He also reduced the number of ministries to 20 before the end of his tenure in 2007.
While Tinubu’s government happens to have the highest number of ministers, he explained that people should be given the size of load they can carry.
He added that despite criticism, the size of his cabinet will enable his government to work efficiently.
“I have had a number of criticisms, including the rationale behind the size of my cabinet. If you want efficient, mobile and resourceful people, we have to give people a load they can carry,” the president added.
