President Bola Tinubu announced on Thursday that he will not hesitate to dismiss ministers who fail in their responsibilities.

Speaking at a meeting with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the presidential villa in Abuja, Tinubu expressed gratitude to his cabinet but emphasized his readiness to act against underperformance.

“I will relieve any of them of their duties anytime I feel that they are failing Nigerians,” Tinubu said, as reported by the presidency. Addressing the ACF leaders, Tinubu urged them to engage governors to be more attentive to local needs. He highlighted the inefficacy of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, questioning their role in solving problems and coordinating with state and federal governments.

Tinubu also described the country’s high number of out-of-school children as “unacceptable” and stressed the importance of education in combating poverty. He committed to collaborating with the ACF to improve Nigeria’s educational system.

The president condemned the infrastructure decay and high poverty rates in northern Nigeria and directed the formation of a committee to address these issues. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), was tasked with leading the follow-up efforts.

Tinubu concluded by calling for national unity and support for his government, emphasizing the strength in Nigeria’s diversity.