Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State and current representative of Abia North in the Senate, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately remove certain ministers and security chiefs whom he described as ineffective and unproductive. According to Kalu, these officials are failing to deliver meaningful results and are hindering Nigeria’s progress.
Kalu made these remarks during an interview on Politics Today, a political affairs program on Channels Television, aired on Monday. He emphasized that Nigeria requires decisive leadership and bold reforms — including a significant overhaul of the president’s team — to confront the nation’s multifaceted challenges.
“Some individuals working closely with President Tinubu are simply not performing,” Kalu declared. “He must find the courage to relieve them of their duties. That includes ministers and key figures in the security architecture.”
He explained that he had personally communicated his concerns to the president in private and offered a candid appraisal of several top government officials. “If the President listens to me, most of these ministers would be gone by now — and that’s the plain truth,” Kalu stated.
The senator didn’t limit his criticism to the civilian sector. He pointed fingers at some security chiefs as well, insisting that their performance has been subpar and that they should also be replaced. “You cannot be sentimental when it comes to rescuing a nation. If President Tinubu genuinely wants to reset Nigeria, some security leaders have to go too,” he asserted.
President Tinubu, who took office in May 2023, appointed 45 ministers0p. In an effort to adjust his team, he made a significant reshuffle in October 2024, dismissing five ministers, appointing seven new ones, and reassigning ten others to different portfolios. However, critics argue that these changes have yet to significantly improve governance or economic outcomes.
Despite acknowledging Tinubu’s intent and effort in steering reforms, Kalu stressed that ordinary Nigerians are yet to feel the positive impact of these policies. “Yes, the president is trying,” Kalu admitted. “The macroeconomic indicators may be stabilizing, but at the grassroots level, the poor are still struggling. The benefits of the reforms have not trickled down to them.”
He also linked the persistent insecurity across the country to Nigeria’s economic stagnation, especially in the agricultural sector. “People are still afraid to go to their farms,” he said. “Insurgency and insecurity remain major barriers to food production and rural development. Without solving these problems, the economy cannot grow.”
According to Kalu, the results of Tinubu’s reforms may take another year or two to fully materialize, but he warned that delay without corresponding relief for ordinary Nigerians could erode public trust. “We must not lose sight of the suffering on the ground. The reforms must be matched with improved security and tangible economic relief for the masses.”
As public pressure continues to mount amid high living costs, rising insecurity, and lingering doubts about government efficiency, Kalu’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among political insiders and citizens alike: President Tinubu must make hard decisions — not only to retain public confidence but to chart a path toward sustainable national recovery.