Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, a prominent Nigerian politician, is the son of Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. A former presidential candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tafawa Balewa is also a Consultant Nuclear Chemist, specializing in food preservation.
Known for his deep understanding of Nigeria’s socio-political landscape, Dr. Tafawa Balewa has frequently voiced his concerns about national governance, economic development, and security issues.
In response to Nigeria’s worsening economic challenges, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa Balewa has advised President Bola Tinubu to reduce the number of ministers in his administration in a bid to lower the cost of governance and channel resources toward national development.
While addressing journalists in Lagos, Tafawa Balewa emphasized the importance of restructuring the federal cabinet to ensure efficiency and reduce wasteful expenditures. He noted that the large number of ministries — 48 in total — is a significant financial burden on the nation’s already strained economy.
“The President needs to be able to move with the times and put people that have moved out or have learned new technologies to be able to manage the different ministries,” he said. He suggested that the administration could benefit from bringing in technocrats with specialized knowledge to drive innovative and effective solutions in governance.
Dr. Tafawa Balewa, who has built a career in nuclear chemistry and food preservation, said, “We just need to be able to slim down the number of ministers.” According to him, reducing the size of Tinubu’s cabinet would free up resources needed for the country’s development, particularly in critical areas like food production and distribution.
In addition to his advice on governance, the former presidential candidate urged the President to tackle Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis. He pointed out that the nation’s farmers, an essential part of the economy, are being hindered from producing food due to insecurity, insurgency, and the threat of kidnappings.
“We have to improve our security so that our farmers can go to the farms. We are going to have a burst of food production,” he said.
He further stressed the need for technology in preserving and distributing food, which would be key to ensuring that Nigeria can meet the growing demand for food amidst its economic challenges.
Dr Tafawa Balewa concluded by calling on President Tinubu to prioritize addressing the country’s security threats as a fundamental step toward economic recovery.
