Ministers In Anxiety Over Performance Report For Tinubu’s One Year In Office

• Deliverables based on Administration’s eight priority areas are criteria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to receive the scorecard of members of his cabinet this week.

The Administration will be one year old next week, but the ministers will clock nine months in office tomorrow, having been sworn in on August 21 last year.

He left the government on December 20.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Dr. Betta Edu has been on suspension since March 6 to allow a probe into allegations of misdeed in her ministry.

There is anxiety in the cabinet over whether the assessment report will lead to a reshuffle or removal of some ministers.

Although the report was compiled by Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination/ Head of Central Coordination Delivery Unit (CDCU) Hajiya Hadiza Bala-Usman, the President has the final say on it.

The criteria for the performance assessment of the ministers were spelt out after the retreat which followed their inauguration.

This is based on deliverables of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) members on the eight priority areas of the Administration. These are:

• Reforming the economy to deliver sustained and inclusive growth;

• Strengthening national security for peace and prosperity;

• Boosting agriculture to achieve food security;

• Unlocking energy and natural resources for sustainable development;

• Enhancing infrastructure and transportation as enablers for growth;

• Focusing on education, health, and social investment as essential pillars of development;

• Accelerating diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation; and

• Improving governance for effective service delivery.

The ministers have been undergoing quarterly performance appraisals by the CDCU.

Although the unit had submitted an interim report, the first-year assessment was said to be “crucial” to shaping the focus of the 36 months left in the first tenure of the President.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President may receive the first year performance evaluation of the ministers, advisers and even strategic departments /agencies.

“The CDCU has subjected the ministers and others to a quarterly assessment.

“From the outset, the ministers signed a performance bond. And the bond will determine their fate.

“There was also a Citizens’ Delivery Tracker App used to monitor the performance of the ministers and their portfolios. Nigerians’ verdict may also count too.

“But whatever is the eventual decision on the ministers, it is the prerogative of the President.”

On how the ministers will be rated, a top source said: “It has been based on the eight priority areas of the President. They are already aware of the key indices.”

At the commencement of the evaluation process, Hajiya Bala-Usman said: “For each of these priority areas, we agreed on specific deliverables and developed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which formed the basis for the Performance Bond which all ministers and permanent secretaries signed with the President in November 2023.

“These parameters will guide the Quarterly Assessments and Annual Scorecards, which the CDCU is mandated to present to the President.”