Some ministers, security chiefs should be sacked – Orji Kalu tells Tinubu

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North, has called on President Bola Tinubu to dismiss certain ministers and security chiefs, citing inefficiency, weak performance, and their failure to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State, made the remarks on Monday during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

“Some people working with President Tinubu should be relieved of their duties. Some of them should go — both from the security sector and among the ministers,” he said.

Kalu stressed that the president must show political courage and decisiveness to get the country back on track.

“President Tinubu must be courageous enough to sack some of these ministers. If he takes my advice — most of these ministers, I’ve appraised them and talked to him privately — most of them should go, and that is the truth,” he stated.

He added that the situation in the security sector was equally dire and that some top officials needed to be replaced urgently.

“If he takes my advice, some of the security chiefs will also go. There is no sentiment about redeeming Nigeria if we really want to relieve Nigeria,” Kalu said.

Kalu’s comments come amid ongoing public debates about the size and effectiveness of Tinubu’s cabinet.

Upon assuming office on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu appointed 45 ministers — the largest cabinet since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. The appointments drew mixed reactions, with critics questioning the competence of some nominees.

In October 2024, Tinubu reshuffled his cabinet, sacking five ministers, appointing seven new ones, and reassigning ten to different ministries.

Kalu also addressed the economic situation under Tinubu’s leadership, particularly after the president removed fuel subsidy in 2023 and floated the naira.

While he acknowledged some progress on macroeconomic indicators, he warned that many Nigerians are yet to see any improvement in their daily lives.

He cautioned that while the economic reforms may take time to yield results, insecurity remains a major stumbling block.

“The changes are trickling down — it’s going to take another one to two years for the changes to come. And what is causing it is because insurgencies and the problems all over Nigeria are still making people not go to the farm,” he said.

Once again, he linked the situation to ineffective officials in the administration.

“Some people working with Tinubu should be relieved of their duties,” he repeated.