BREAKING: Tinubu Reshuffles Finance Ministry After ₦1.15 Trillion Budget Controversy!

BREAKING: Tinubu Reshuffles Finance Ministry After ₦1.15 Trillion Budget ControversyBy Enock Damidami, Sele Media AfricaPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite as Minister of State for Finance and reassigned her to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning following heightened scrutiny during a National Assembly budget defence session.Her replacement is Taiwo Oyedele, a tax expert and former Fiscal Policy Partner at PwC who chaired the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.The development comes one week after Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, questioned the Ministry of Finance over ₦1.15 trillion in approved capital funds reportedly yet to be disbursed, with capital project implementation said to be at zero percent.During the Appropriation Committee’s budget defence hearing, Ikwechegh listed several approved funding lines and loan inflows, including:$1.2 billion for digital infrastructure$500 million economic stimulus$500 million MSME support (December 2025)$500 million AfDB-backed economic governance/energy transition facility (November 2025)$21 million + ¥15 billion + €4 billion recent executive loan requests₦1.15 trillion — representing 30% of the 2025 capital budget — approved but not disbursedHe questioned why capital projects remained unfunded despite approvals and borrowings.Finance Minister Wale Edun reportedly directed responsibility for disbursement issues to the Minister of State, Uzoka-Anite. When she appeared before the committee, she confirmed the ₦1.15 trillion approval but stated that certain “pre-disbursement conditions” had not been met by some ministries. However, she did not name any ministry that had fulfilled all conditions yet failed to receive funding.Ikwechegh stated during the session:“If this infraction is identified, it means there has been misappropriation of funds — which is a crime.”At 3:30 PM on March 3, the presidency announced the cabinet reshuffle through a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. The statement did not reference the budget defence hearing.Uzoka-Anite’s reassignment marks her third ministerial portfolio in two years, having previously served as Minister of Trade and Investment before moving to Finance.The central question raised at the hearing remains unresolved: the status and location of the ₦1.15 trillion approved for capital expenditure.

Sources: National Assembly Budget Defence Hearing; Office of the President; Statement by Bayo Onanuga

Enock Damidami

Enock Damidami is a Social Media Manager and Journalist at Sele Media Africa, originally from Niger State, Nigeria. He is currently pursuing an NCE in Mathematics and Computer Studies, combining analytical discipline with digital media strategy to strengthen newsroom performance and regional coverage. Passionate about youth leadership and societal transformation, Enock is an aspiring problem solver committed to responsible journalism, civic impact, and the belief that nothing good comes easy—but through persistence, excellence, and prayer, every meaningful goal is achievable.

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Enock Damidami

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Enock Damidami is a Social Media Manager and Journalist at Sele Media Africa, originally from Niger State, Nigeria. He is currently pursuing an NCE in Mathematics and Computer Studies, combining analytical discipline with digital media strategy to strengthen newsroom performance and regional coverage. Passionate about youth leadership and societal transformation, Enock is an aspiring problem solver committed to responsible journalism, civic impact, and the belief that nothing good comes easy—but through persistence, excellence, and prayer, every meaningful goal is achievable.

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