President Bola Tinubu has initiated a fresh shake-up in his cabinet, approving the appointments of Sunday Dare and Daniel Bwala as co-spokespersons alongside Bayo Onanuga.
In a statement released on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, it was confirmed that there will no longer be a single spokesperson for the president. Instead, Dare and Bwala will now jointly serve as spokespersons for the presidency.
Dare, who previously held the position of Special Adviser on Public Communication and National Orientation, has been re-designated as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications. Bwala, who was appointed last week as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication, has now been re-assigned to the role of Special Adviser, Policy Communication.
The presidency explained that this restructuring is part of efforts to streamline and enhance the efficiency of government communications, ensuring a more consistent and effective dissemination of policies, decisions, and engagements.
The statement further clarified that with this new structure, the roles of all three Special Advisers—Onanuga, Dare, and Bwala—will collectively cover the responsibilities of government spokespersons.
Restructuring and Reforms in Tinubu’s Administration
This reshuffle is part of broader efforts to revamp the communication and operational frameworks within the presidency. The restructuring follows President Tinubu’s earlier decisions to boost administrative efficiency, which include significant changes to ministerial appointments and the implementation of key reforms across various ministries.
In October, President Tinubu dismissed five ministers and appointed seven new ones, while also re-assigning ten ministers to new positions. The sacked ministers were:
- Uju-Ken Ohanenye (former Minister of Women Affairs)
- Lola Ade-John (former Minister of Tourism)
- Tahir Mamman (former Minister of Education)
- Abdullahi Gwarzo (former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development)
- Jamila Ibrahim (former Minister of Youth Development)
The newly appointed ministers, who will require Senate confirmation, are:
- Nentawe Yilwatda
- Muhammadu Dingyadi
- Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu
- Jumoke Oduwole
- Idi Maiha
- Yusuf Abdullahi Ata
- Suwaiba Ahmad
These changes are part of Tinubu’s broader effort to optimize the administration’s efficiency and fulfill his promises to Nigerians. The president has outlined eight key reforms designed to reinvigorate the government’s operations, including:
- Renaming the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the Ministry of Regional Development, overseeing the activities of all Regional Development Commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission, South East Development Commission, North East Development Commission, and North West Development Commission.
- Winding up the Ministry of Sports Development and transferring its functions to the National Sports Commission to better develop the sports economy.
- Merging the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Arts and Culture into the new Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
- Re-assigning ten ministers to new portfolios.
- Dismissing five ministers.
- Nominating seven new ministers for Senate confirmation.
- Appointing Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission.
- Appointing Sunday Akin Dare as Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and National Orientation within the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
The presidency stated that these reforms are aimed at strengthening the administration’s capacity for optimal performance and ensuring that President Tinubu’s agenda is effectively delivered to the people of Nigeria.
