Nigerian Reps Urge Tinubu to Reduce Cabinet to 37 Ministers

The Nigerian House of Representatives has called on President Tinubu to cut the number of ministers to 37, aiming to streamline government operations and reduce costs.

The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review is evaluating a bill that proposes amending the 1999 Constitution to cap the number of ministers appointed by the president at 37.

The bill, named “An Act to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Streamline the Number of Ministers Appointed to the Federal Executive Council,” is currently under review by a committee led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

The bill, supported by the representatives of Darazo/Ganjuwa and Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal Constituencies in Bauchi and Borno states respectively, proposes an amendment to Section 147 (1) of the Constitution. The revised section would state: “There shall be such offices for Ministers within the Government of the Federation, with a limit not exceeding 37 appointments, as established by the President.”

President Bola Tinubu’s Federal Executive Council currently includes 45 ministers, both substantive and Ministers of State.

For many years, the Nigerian president has been appointing a minister from each of the 36 states in the federation and also considers additional factors when forming his cabinet.

READ ALSO: Tinubu: “People May Not Like Us, But We’re Making Progress”

He stated that the bill aims to amend the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by establishing a limit on the number of ministers appointed to the Federal Executive Council. This change is intended to prevent duplication of duties, reduce governance costs, and improve service efficiency at the federal level.

We must cut down the costs associated with governance by ensuring a fair distribution of ministerial appointments among states and eliminating any overlap in their duties. I believe appointing one minister per state, while also including representation for the Federal Capital Territory, is sufficient.

The lawmaker from the Peoples Democratic Party disagreed with the argument that the president could choose to appoint more than two ministers from a single state in order to include technocrats.

Soro remarked, “The President has numerous key government agencies and additional ministerial departments to place technocrats or politicians. Currently, Ogun State is represented by four ministers while other states have just one each. Is that equitable?”

Likewise, the committee led by Kalu is reviewing a bill that aims to amend Section 62 of the Constitution to ensure adherence to the federal character principle in forming the group of principal officers within the National Assembly.