Ministers

  The lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume, has called for the sacking of more slacking ministers from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet. Ndume, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said some other ministers who were not performing should be sacked. The lawmaker applauded Tinubu’s recent cabinet restructuring, particularly the creation of the Ministry of Regional Development to oversee all regional commissions. He said, “We saw President Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle last week, which was a masterstroke. “More needs to be done as some ministers are still ‘missing in action. “I’m particularly pleased about establishing the Ministry of Regional Development to oversee regional commissions. The President’s decision to streamline ministries also exemplifies his commitment to reducing the cost of governance.” He encouraged Tinubu to pursue his de-dollarisation policy further by positioning Nigeria to join BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). De-dollarisation is the process by which countries explore alternative methods for international trade and financial transactions to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar as the primary global reserve currency. Ndume noted that the move would benefit Nigerian businesses, especially those importing from China, by reducing reliance on the dollar and easing pressure on the naira. The senator also urged Tinubu to convene a national economic conference led by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the National Economic Adviser, and notable Nigerian economists to devise local solutions for the Federal Government. Similarly, a former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Charles Udeogaranya faulted Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle, describing it as wrong changes that wouldn’t yield the desired results. Udeogaranya, in a statement in Abuja, said the cabinet reshuffle was carried out in the wrong places, noting that it would not yield any impact on the economy. “I am worried that President Tinubu’s economic team is not even brainstorming, needless to say. “I therefore charge Tinubu to overhaul, reshuffle, and inject new hands with good leadership skills into his economic team if he truly desires a better economy for Nigeria and Nigerians.”   Punch