Previously, ministers of state had limited administrative control, as files related to these agencies were sent by their permanent secretaries to the senior ministers.

With the new directive, ministers of state can now grant essential administrative approvals and make decisions on governance matters directly. This change aims to better utilise the expertise and capabilities of these ministers, addressing Tinubu’s concerns that the previous structure led to their “underutilisation.”

According to an official from the office of the head of service of the federation, President Tinubu expressed his dissatisfaction with the old framework, noting that it left ministers of state with limited practical authority despite their titles.

“The president was not pleased with the prevailing governing framework in which ministers of states were just ministers in name. The president believes ministers of state should have the right to make decisions and direct action within their areas of responsibility,” the official stated.

The recommendation for this policy shift came from Hadiza Bala Usman, Tinubu’s special adviser on policy coordination, who heads the central delivery coordination unit. Her proposal reportedly received immediate support from the president.

With a 48-member cabinet, Tinubu’s administration includes 16 ministers of state who will now benefit from this empowerment. Ministries with ministers of state include agriculture, defense, education, health, petroleum (oil and gas), foreign affairs, and several others. This directive is expected to “unleash” the potential of all ministers, enabling them to contribute more effectively to the administration’s goals.