The Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF), a coalition of political and socio-cultural leaders across Nigeria’s 19 northern states, has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently restructure his cabinet and overhaul the nation’s security system in light of Nigeria’s deepening crises.
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, signed by Convener Dominic Alancha, the group said it had “deeply examined the painful conditions of the people of Northern Nigeria and the nation at large” and concluded that immediate, transformative action is necessary.
The Forum expressed strong disappointment over what it described as the “glaring underperformance” of several ministers, noting that the current team lacks the competence and political weight to deliver on the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
A ministerial appointment is not merely a reward for loyalty; it is a critical assignment. We therefore call on President Tinubu to immediately dissolve and reshuffle the Federal Executive Council (FEC), replacing underperforming ministers with individuals of proven integrity, exceptional capability and significant political influence, the statement read.
According to NENF, strengthening the cabinet is not only vital for national development but also crucial for President Tinubu’s political survival ahead of the 2027 elections.
On the escalating security challenges, the Forum warned that banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping have devastated farming, commerce, and transportation across northern states. It described the situation as nothing short of a “full-blown catastrophe.”
The statement declared that despite significant funding, the Service Chiefs had failed to deliver results and should therefore be replaced. NENF called for the appointment of new military leaders with a results-driven mandate, alongside a state of emergency on security in Northern Nigeria.
“This is not a call for militarization but for a targeted, multi-agency emergency operation to flush out terrorists, dismantle their networks, and restore order,” the Forum emphasized.
While commending Tinubu’s reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification, the Forum insisted that these policies must be backed by tangible interventions to ease the burden on citizens.
It recommended urgent rollout of palliatives, increased investment in agriculture and manufacturing, as well as improvements in power, transport, and infrastructure to stimulate growth.
The group also stressed the importance of empathy in leadership, warning of a growing disconnect between Nigerians and the government.
“We supported the President’s ambition and desire to support him again in 2027, but that support is contingent on effective, empathetic and decisive governance. The time for action is now,” the Forum declared.
