I’m not prepared to downsize my cabinet — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu on Monday, December 23, defended his decision to maintain a 48-member cabinet, dismissing criticisms that it is “bloated” and emphasizing the need for efficiency in governance.

“I am not ready to shrink the size of my cabinet,” Tinubu stated during a media chat at his Bourdillon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. He argued that “efficiency” guided his selection of ministers, implying that the size of the cabinet aligns with the administration’s goals and priorities.

The president also reiterated his stance on the controversial removal of the petrol subsidy, a decision implemented shortly after he took office in May 2023.

“I don’t have any regrets whatsoever in removing petrol subsidy,” Tinubu declared. “We are spending our future, we were just deceiving ourselves, that reform was necessary.”

He added that Nigeria could no longer act as “Father Christmas” to neighboring countries by subsidizing fuel costs that often benefited them more than Nigerians.

Tinubu’s comments come amid growing debates about the structure and decisions of his administration, highlighting his commitment to his policy choices despite public scrutiny.