As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approaches the second anniversary of his administration on May 29, preparations are underway at the Presidential Villa for the submission of updated performance reports from federal ministries, according to credible sources.
The reports, coordinated by the Central Results Delivery and Coordination Unit (CDCU), cover the first quarter of 2025 and will help the President assess the effectiveness of his cabinet members midway into his tenure. The reviews are based on performance bonds signed by ministers during the 2023 cabinet retreat.
Aides close to the process reveal that the CDCU, headed by Hadiza Bala-Usman, has completed a rigorous review of reports submitted by ministries through a secured digital portal. These reports detail projects, initiatives, and policy milestones. The final dossier, complete with performance ratings, is expected to land on the President’s desk in the coming days.
“Each ministry was required to upload documentation proving what they’ve done so far this year,” one source familiar with the matter explained. “Verification teams went through each submission carefully before assigning scores.”
Though not all ministries performed poorly, insiders disclosed that only a handful stood out. The Ministry of Works, for instance, received praise for its progress, while others were flagged for underperformance in key areas.
President Tinubu has previously emphasized performance-based retention of ministers. “If you miss the objectives, we’ll review it. If no performance, you leave us,” he said during a 2023 retreat. This firm stance has already resulted in prior cabinet adjustments.
While immediate dismissals are unlikely before the May 29 anniversary events, the scorecards are expected to spark behind-the-scenes evaluations. Presidential aides suggest that face-to-face engagements between the President and underperforming ministers are imminent, and the report may influence a future cabinet reshuffle.
Opposition parties have seized on the opportunity to question the administration’s progress. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have all called for greater accountability, with some demanding a complete overhaul of the cabinet.
Debo Ologunagba, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, criticized the government’s approach to insecurity and economic hardship, describing the administration as “a monumental failure.” His concerns were echoed by NNPP’s Ladipo Johnson and LP’s Obiora Ifoh, who urged Tinubu to remove non-performing ministers and inject new energy into the government.
Policy advocates and civil society leaders also weighed in, urging the Presidency to publish the CDCU report to ensure public transparency.
Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), warned that many ministers appeared more concerned with 2027 political optics than with effective governance. “The public needs to see this report,” he stated.
Hadiza Bala-Usman had previously clarified that the performance monitoring is more than just bureaucratic paperwork. She noted in earlier press briefings that these evaluations directly influence presidential decisions and have already led to adjustments in some ministries.
Whether these reports will trigger more drastic changes remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: President Tinubu is gearing up for a pivotal mid-term review of his government’s delivery and the outcomes may define the next phase of his administration.
