President Bola Tinubu has introduced a transformative policy change, granting ministers of state complete authority over the agencies and departments under their jurisdiction.
Previously, files concerning these agencies were sent by permanent secretaries to senior ministers for final approvals, which limited the decision-making scope of ministers of state, often relegating them to largely symbolic roles.
According to a source from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation who spoke with The Cable, President Tinubu found this setup unsatisfactory, citing that it “underutilised the skills and capabilities” of ministers of state.
“The president was not pleased with a structure that treated ministers of state as nominal figures,” the official stated.
Under the new directive, ministers of state now have the authority to issue essential administrative approvals and make decisions directly within their areas of responsibility. This shift is intended to fully leverage the strengths of all cabinet members, promoting a more effective governance model.
Tinubu’s cabinet includes 48 ministers, with 16 serving in junior positions. Ministries impacted by the directive include agriculture and food security, defense, education, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), foreign affairs, health, petroleum, humanitarian and poverty reduction, and women’s affairs.
Other ministries affected are works, regional development, labor and employment, finance, trade and investment, and housing and urban development.
