Kehinde Fajobi
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismiss additional ministers he believes are underperforming in order to accelerate the implementation of the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
In a statement on Saturday in Abuja, Ndume applauded the recent reshuffle and the creation of a new Ministry of Regional Development but noted that “more needs to be done because some ministers are still missing in action.”
President Tinubu recently reshuffled his cabinet, removing six ministers, appointing seven new ones, and reassigning ten other portfolios.
Ndume described the reorganisation as “a welcome development” but said that for the administration to achieve its goals, “there are still key areas that require more effective leadership.”
As part of his recommendations, Ndume, a former Senate Chief Whip, urged the president to convene a national economic summit to explore local solutions for Nigeria’s economic challenges, emphasising a shift away from reliance on IMF and World Bank recommendations.
He proposed that the summit be led by renowned Nigerians such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili, Mansur Muktar, Akinwumi Adesina, Aruma Oteh, and Tope Fasua.
“This national economic summit should be purely led by these eminent Nigerians,” Ndume said, adding that their expertise could offer sustainable solutions suited to Nigeria’s specific needs.
“They will come up with recommendations instead of the IMF and World Bank’s prescriptions that are harsh and hard on the ordinary citizens. I believe if the recommendations are good, President Tinubu will implement them, and this will help the country in no small ways.”
Additionally, Ndume praised Tinubu’s steps to reduce the cost of governance during challenging economic times and called on other arms of government to adopt similar measures to support the administration’s efforts at easing the financial burden on Nigerians.