As President Bola Tinubu marks his second year in office on May 29, the Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU) is preparing to submit a fresh performance report on his ministers, presidency sources revealed on Tuesday.
The report, which evaluates ministerial performance for the first quarter of 2025, is expected on the President’s desk within days. It will serve as a mid-term review tool as Tinubu reaches the halfway point of his first term.
The CDCU, led by Hadiza Bala-Usman, has completed the verification of projects and policy achievements uploaded by ministries to a secure portal in April. These submissions are being measured against deliverables set out in the performance bonds signed by ministers during the October 2023 cabinet retreat.
A presidency official disclosed that only a few ministries scored above average, with many falling short on key indicators. “The Minister of Works stands out among the top performers,” the source said, while others showed “poor results in critical areas.”
While no immediate sackings are expected, the report will guide one-on-one evaluations and could influence future cabinet changes.
President Tinubu had previously warned that performance would determine ministers’ job security. “If you are performing, nothing to fear. If not, you leave,” he said at the 2023 cabinet retreat. The October 2024 reshuffle, which saw two ministers dismissed and others reassigned, was reportedly informed by the CDCU’s findings.
Established in June 2023, the CDCU is modeled on similar delivery units in the UK and Rwanda, tasked with tracking key performance indicators and flagging underperforming sectors for presidential attention.
Despite the CDCU’s quiet operations, public pressure is mounting for accountability. Civil society and opposition parties have sharply criticized Tinubu’s administration over economic hardship and insecurity.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have all called for a cabinet overhaul. PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba described the administration as a “monumental failure,” blaming Tinubu for worsening insecurity and economic decline. “This government has failed in every sector,” he said.
NNPP’s Ladipo Johnson urged the President to inject “dynamic new hands” into his cabinet, warning that the current pace of governance is unsustainable. The LP’s Obiora Ifoh echoed similar sentiments, urging Tinubu to remove non-performing ministers and focus more on security and economic recovery.
Civil society voices have also weighed in. Debo Adeniran, head of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, criticised the performance of the education, health, and security sectors, warning that public services are in a state of collapse.
Auwal Rafsanjani of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre noted that while some ministers are working hard, many are more focused on positioning for Tinubu’s potential 2027 re-election bid than on their official duties. He also called for the CDCU report to be made public, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability.
Although any major cabinet reshuffle is unlikely before the May 29 celebrations, insiders suggest the President may use the report to engage ministers privately and set the stage for potential changes in the months ahead.
Responding to the brewing scrutiny, presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga downplayed the tension, describing the CDCU report as “a routine exercise to keep ministers and agency heads on their toes.”
