Why Tinubu sacked Mamman, Uju, others

Fresh details have emerged on the factors that could have led to the dismissal of five ministers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The now former ministers—Prof. Tahir Mamman (SAN), Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Lola Ade-John, and Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo—were relieved of their duties in a move described by the presidency as a […]

Fresh details have emerged on the factors that could have led to the dismissal of five ministers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The now former ministers—Prof. Tahir Mamman (SAN), Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Lola Ade-John, and Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo—were relieved of their duties in a move described by the presidency as a “far-reaching action to reinvigorate the administration’s capacity for optimal efficiency.”

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the president’s decision was driven by his commitment to delivering on promises made to Nigerians.

During an interview on Arise TV, Onanuga provided further insight into the reasons behind the sack, explaining that the action was based on both public feedback and concrete data.

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‘Hadiza’s marvellous job’

Onanuga said that the Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, had been tasked with overseeing the performance appraisal process, which included gathering public perceptions about the ministers’ work.

“When the ministers were sworn in, President Tinubu clearly told them that as president, he had the power to hire and fire, and that he would not hesitate to remove anyone who failed to perform”, Onanuga said, recalling Tinubu’s words.

He noted that during a retreat in October last year, the president reiterated this warning, signalling his willingness to shake up his cabinet if necessary.

Onanuga further explained that the president’s decision to act was not made hastily, stressing that the move followed an organised process.

“This was not something done on a whim. Hadiza Bala Usman and her team employed technology, asking Nigerians to assess the ministers’ performances. The removal of the ministers was based on empirical data and the scorecards filled out by Nigerians,” he said.

According to Onanuga, the president’s decision reflected public dissatisfaction more than personal disappointment.

Tinubu himself, he said, had noted that while the government believed it was performing well, the perception from the public told a different story.

“The president had challenged the ministers a few weeks ago to go out and inform Nigerians about what they had achieved in the last year. The public felt the government was underperforming, even though internally, the administration believed it was making progress. The ministers were not effectively communicating the government’s accomplishments to the people,” Onanuga added.

Prof.  Mamman (SAN)

On Prof. Mamman, the former Minister of Education, sources revealed that controversies around his handling of the appointment of governing councils for tertiary institutions played a major role in his ouster.

This process, which Mamman was responsible for overseeing, became a source of public embarrassment for the presidency.

The controversy arose from complaints that the appointments did not reflect federal character, with some states receiving only one nomination while others got several.

“The nomination did not reflect the federal character of the country,” Onanuga said at the time.

Mamman, a former Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, also appear to have bungled several  policies during his time as minister, which alienated significant sections of the public.

One of the policies, even though was abused over them, was mandating an 18-year minimum age for university admissions, a move that sparked heated debate and even a legal action.

Till date, the issue has remained a subject of public discourse.

His tenure also saw growing dissatisfaction with the ministry of education’s handling of various matters, including foreign students’ participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, which left thousands of Nigerian graduates from universities in Benin and Togo unable to enrol. A non-governmental organisation, Education for Accelerated Development (EDAD), described Mamman’s removal as long overdue.

In a statement, the group accused him of several missteps that they believed were harming Nigeria’s education sector. EDAD’s criticism included accusations of poor coordination among key educational bodies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). This lack of coherence, according to the group, resulted in confusion and delays that frustrated many stakeholders in the sector.

There was also frustration over Mamman’s handling of accreditation processes for tertiary institutions. Despite visiting numerous universities, the ministry was slow to approve new accreditations, leading to accusation of inefficiency.

Additionally, his public statements regarding the legitimacy of universities in neighbouring countries generated concerns in some quarters.  Furthermore, his declaration that Nigerians who earned degrees from Benin and Togo would be disqualified from public service created panic, as many feared for their employment. These controversies ultimately played a role in his ouster.

Uju Ohanenye

No member of President Tinubu’s cabinet attracted more controversies during their term than Uju Ohanenye, the immediate past Minister of Women Affairs. Her tenure was dogged by a series of public relations missteps, which ultimately led to her dismissal.

In October 2023, just two months after assuming office, Uju Kennedy threatened to sue the United Nations (UN) over what she described as the mismanagement of funds meant for Nigeria. She alleged that the UN had collected money on behalf of the country without remitting same, a claim that prompted backlash from legal experts.

Critics were quick to point out that the UN enjoys immunity from lawsuits, exposing Uju Kennedy’s misunderstanding of international law. Her comments were widely viewed as an embarrassment to the government, and she was forced to retract her statement.

Earlier, Uju Kennedy faced criticism for her remarks on the sexual harassment scandal at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

In a viral video, she appeared to have defended the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, who was accused of harassment by students.

Her suggestion that the students were being manipulated by other parties sparked outrage, leading to calls for her resignation from gender rights groups. A coalition of over 500 gender activists under the aegis of Womanifesto voiced concern that Uju Kennedy’s comments could have far-reaching implications for the protection of women and children in Nigeria.

The Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, raised alarm over the potential damage to the credibility of the Ministry of Women Affairs under her leadership.

Adding to her list of controversies, Uju Kennedy found herself embroiled in another dispute in May when she attempted to stop the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, from marrying off 100 orphans from his constituency.

In August, she made headlines again for disrupting two events in Abuja, claiming they were held without her authorisation.

Despite her removal, Uju had extended gratitude to Tinubu and his wife, Remi. 

In a letter of appreciation released to journalists on Thursday, she also spoke on her commitment to Nigeria’s progress and prosperity.

Ohanenye also extended appreciation to Remi Tinubu, for her “invaluable guidance and support” throughout her tenure, which she credited as instrumental to her success. She expressed her deep appreciation for the unwavering support of Nigerians, saying, “Your trust and confidence in me have been a constant source of inspiration.

“I remain committed to serving my country and will continue to do my utmost to contribute to its progress and prosperity”, she said.

Other ministers

The other ministers, Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo (Housing and Urban Development), and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development), were dismissed due to their perceived lack of impact in their respective roles.

Sources revealed that Lola Ade-John spent much of her time abroad during her short tenure, making it difficult for her to make meaningful contributions to the tourism sector. Meanwhile, Gwarzo and Ibrahim were criticised for failing to record any significant achievements during their time in office.

However, in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) platform, Gwarzo thanked Tinubu for the opportunity given to him,

“As I reflect on my tenure as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, I’m filled with gratitude. Serving the nation for a year has been an invaluable experience.”