Tinubu Defends Cabinet Size, Says No Regrets Over Petrol Subsidy Removal

President Bola Tinubu has responded to critics who described his cabinet as “bloated” by saying he is unprepared to reduce the size of his 48-man cabinet. During his first presidential media chat, Tinubu argued that “efficiency” has been at the core of his selection of ministers.

The president’s media chat, moderated by Dr. Reuben Abati of Arise TV, covered various topics, including the economy, security, and tax reforms. Tinubu expressed confidence in his security architecture and defended his government’s borrowing habits, saying it’s not a crime to borrow for infrastructure development.

Tinubu also stood firm on his decision to remove the petrol subsidy in May 2023, stating that Nigeria can’t continue to subsidize fuel for neighboring countries. He believes this reform was necessary to preserve Nigeria’s future and that of generations yet unborn. When asked about phasing out the subsidy removal, Tinubu stressed the importance of responsible management, saying the country can’t afford unnecessary expenditures without revenue to back them up.

Tinubu justified his decision to remove the subsidy, citing the need to preserve Nigeria’s future and that of generations yet unborn. When asked if he thought he should have phased out the subsidy removal, Tinubu emphasized the importance of responsible management, saying “Why should you have expenditure that you don’t have revenue to take care of?”.