Tinubu Expands Powers of Ministers of State, Grants Full Agency Oversight – Report

President Bola Tinubu has empowered ministers of state with full authority to oversee agencies within their assigned ministries. This change, confirmed by sources close to the Office of the Head of Service, is a departure from the previous protocol where ministerial decisions were centralized under senior ministers.

Under the previous arrangement, ministers of state had limited authority, as critical files and decisions concerning departments and agencies had to be sent through permanent secretaries to senior ministers for approval. This setup often constrained the ability of ministers of state to independently manage the affairs within their jurisdiction.

With Tinubu’s directive, ministers of state now have full administrative powers to issue necessary approvals and provide direct oversight within their respective agencies. According to an official from the Office of the Head of Service, Tinubu expressed dissatisfaction with the former system, which he described as limiting the “expertise and capabilities” of ministers of state, who were effectively sidelined in the governance process.

“The president believes that ministers of state should have the autonomy to make decisions and direct actions within their areas of responsibility,” the official said.

This initiative was first proposed by Hadiza Bala Usman, the president’s special adviser on policy coordination and head of the central delivery coordination unit. The suggestion reportedly resonated with Tinubu, leading to swift action.

The administration hopes this directive will enhance productivity by “unleashing” the full potential of all cabinet members. Tinubu’s cabinet comprises 48 ministers, of which 16 serve as ministers of state, overseeing key sectors such as agriculture, defense, education, foreign affairs, health, petroleum, poverty reduction, women’s affairs, labor, finance, trade, housing, and regional development.

This reform aims to streamline decision-making and improve the efficiency of government operations across these critical sectors.