President Bola Tinubu has granted ministers of state full supervisory authority over the agencies within their portfolios, marking a significant shift from the previous system where permanent secretaries handled agency-related matters and reported directly to senior ministers. This reform empowers ministers of state to independently approve administrative actions for the agencies and departments they oversee.

A source within the office of the head of the federation’s civil service explained that Tinubu’s decision was driven by dissatisfaction with the prior arrangement, which limited the influence of ministers of state and led to the “underutilization of their expertise and capabilities.” The president believes that granting these ministers more autonomy will allow them to make impactful decisions and enhance their effectiveness.

The reform, proposed by Hadiza Bala Usman, the special adviser on policy coordination and head of the central delivery coordination unit, was swiftly endorsed by Tinubu. The move aims to maximize the potential of all ministers, particularly the 16 junior ministers of state overseeing critical sectors such as agriculture, defense, education, health, petroleum, humanitarian affairs, and finance.

This new directive is expected to improve the efficiency and performance of the government, ensuring that ministers of state can actively drive progress in their respective areas of responsibility.