Niyi Odebode and Adelani Adepegba
President Muhammadu Buhari has concluded plans for a major overhaul of his administration , reliable sources in government told SUNDAY PUNCH over the weekend.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject , said the changes were going to be ‘ earth - shattering’ because a few of the President ’ s powerful aides and prominent members of the administration would be affected. SUNDAY PUNCH ’ s
findings also revealed that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria , Godwin Emefiele, is likely to be affected by the changes .
A senior government official , who preferred anonymity said , “In the next few weeks , we are entering the second half of this administration . I can tell you that a major cabinet reshuffle is on the way . Ministerial vacancies for Kogi and Gombe states would be filled , while there would also be an exchange of portfolios .
“ Some junior ministers , whose relationships with their senior counterparts are not smooth would also be redeployed . ”
A source within the administration , who is privy to the details of the planned changes , said the country would soon witness greater synergy between the President and Vice -President Yemi Osinbajo. The source added that under the new scheme of things , the President intended to assign more important national duties to Osinbajo.
Buhari , who will resume duty on Monday after a 49 - day medical vacation in London , is said to have been very impressed by what a source in government described as the ‘ performance , competence and loyalty ’ of the Vice President , who served as Acting President while he was away.
When asked why it took the President two years to synergise fully with his deputy , the source replied that both men had always been closer than the public knew.
“ The President and the Vice President have always been on the same page . They are close . He likes to delegate tasks to the VP . However , not much could be done in the past because of the interference of some people close to the President . The President is determined to remove those who interfere so that his administration can build on its recent strides, ” the source , who is a senior government official , said .
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt on Saturday that besides filling vacancies in his cabinet , the President would redistribute some ministerial portfolios . He may also divest the former Governor of Lagos State and current Minister of Power , Works and Housing , Babatunde Fashola, of one of his portfolios .
The senior government officials who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH were however not forthcoming with the names of those likely to be affected by the changes . They said the President liked to keep such things close to his chest. However , independent findings by one of our correspondents revealed that those to be removed may include the Chief of Staff to the President , Abba Kyari; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Babachir Lawal ; and some ministers who have been adjudged as under -performing. A former Governor of Edo State , Adams Oshiomhole , is expected to join the cabinet .
The source explained the criteria the President would use in reshuffling his cabinet .
He said besides measuring the performance of each cabinet member , the President would also examine the relationship between senior and junior ministers .
Currently , two states , Kogi and Gombe , have no representatives in the Federal Executive Council .
Kogi State ’ s position became vacant following the death of a former Minister of State , Labour and Employment, Mr . James Ocholi ( SAN ) , in a road accident on March 6 , 2016 .
The Minister of Environment , Amina Mohammed , who hails from Gombe , left the Federal Executive Council last month when she assumed duty as the Deputy Secretary - General of the United Nations .
There has been speculation since late last year that the President would carry out a major cabinet reshuffle.
In Kogi State , it was learnt that already , there was intense rivalry among various groups to fill the vacant slot for the state
According to a report , the Kogi East zone , where Ocholi hailed from , had expressed concern about the delay in picking one of them to replace the late minister .
Also , the All Progressives Congress in Kogi West was reported to be interested in filling the vacant slot of the state .
The President , after his return on Friday, promised to rededicate himself to serve Nigerians .
He said he returned on Friday deliberately so that he could continue his rest while the Vice- President , Prof . Yemi Osinbajo continued working .
“ I deliberately came back towards the weekend so that the Vice- President will continue and I will continue to rest, ” the President said .
He also took a retrospective look at his about - two - month medical sojourn in London , and declared that he had never been this sick .
His statement contrasted sharply with that of top government officials who had insisted that he was hale and hearty.
“ I couldn ’ t recall being so sick since I was a young man , including in the military with its ups and downs , ” he said .
Buhari added that He said he remained grateful to all Nigerians who had been praying for his good health .
He said the support he had received was a testimony that in spite of the hardship being experienced, Nigerians were behind the government in its efforts to tackle the country’ s challenges .
Buhari ’ s spokesmen , Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina denied knowledge of the impending reshuffle .
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