Adebayo Shittu, former Minister of Communications, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to expand his cabinet to approximately 50 ministers, arguing that the large team is necessary to serve Nigeria’s population of over 200 million effectively. In an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, Shittu explained that as governance becomes more complex, the need for additional ministries to address new challenges also increases.
He pointed out that sprawling ministries like agriculture and education oversee multiple agencies, making it overwhelming for a single minister. Shittu suggested creating separate ministries, such as primary and higher education, to allow for better focus and management. He also downplayed cost concerns, noting, “Saving a kobo at the expense of losing naira doesn’t make sense.”
Shittu further compared Nigeria to other countries, saying the cabinet size should reflect the vast responsibilities each ministry handles, given Nigeria’s scale and diversity.
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