Adebayo Shittu: I Can Only Vouch for One of Tinubu’s New Ministers

In a recent interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, shared his thoughts on the new ministerial appointments made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Shittu revealed that among the seven new ministers, the only one he can confidently endorse is Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, who has been appointed as the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Investment.

Shittu praised Oduwole’s past performance during her tenure under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, where she excelled in matters of trade, commerce, and investment. “I am proud because she is one person that can deliver,” Shittu stated, adding that he was not familiar with the remaining six appointees, and therefore could not assess their potential contributions at this time.

Commenting on the broader reshuffle, Shittu questioned whether the new appointments truly brought superior expertise compared to the ministers they replaced. “It is just a case of some Nigerians being asked to move on, and some other Nigerians being brought in,” he said, stressing that this does not automatically mean the new appointees are more capable.

Shittu also emphasized the importance of a thorough screening process for ministerial nominees, cautioning against a “trial-and-error” approach. He highlighted the positive impact of having an engineer lead the Ministry of Works, using this as an example of how expertise in a relevant field can significantly benefit governance. “Nigerians don’t have too much time for a learning process,” he warned, advocating for greater scrutiny in the selection of future ministers.