President Bola Tinubu has removed Wale Edun as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, along with Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, in a minor cabinet reshuffle. The changes, confirmed by a statement from Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, took effect immediately. Taiwo Oyedele, who previously served as Minister of State for Finance, has been elevated to fill Edun’s position, while Muttaqha Darma has been named Minister‑designate for Housing and Urban Development.
Edun, a long‑time associate of Tinubu, was appointed in August 2023 to oversee Nigeria’s fiscal policy and economic planning. The two had previously worked together when Edun served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance from 1999 to 2007 during Tinubu’s governorship. Despite this history, sources indicate growing tension between them over the administration’s handling of capital‑budget releases and overall budget planning. The government has faced criticism for disrupting Nigeria’s traditional January‑to‑December budget cycle, with particular scrutiny on the slow implementation of capital expenditures.
In February, federal lawmakers accused Edun of “zero implementation” of the 2025 capital budget, even though the National Assembly had approved a N1.15 trillion allocation. Ministries, departments, and agencies reportedly faced funding shortages and unpaid contractors, prompting opposition lawmakers to threaten the removal of both Edun and the Accountant‑General of the Federation. Edun defended the administration’s approach, stating that unsustainable “money‑printing” practices had ceased and that the focus had shifted to debt servicing. He maintained that 80 % of the 2024 budget had been implemented and that 2025 capital releases were on track for completion by December 2025.
Relations deteriorated further after a heated exchange between Edun and Tinubu during a Federal Executive Council meeting on 10 December 2025. The confrontation was so intense that the president’s aide‑de‑camp reportedly intervened to prevent Edun from raising his voice at Tinubu. Following the incident, Tinubu began devolving some of Edun’s responsibilities to the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka‑Anite. The president subsequently appointed Oyedele as Minister of State in March, signaling the beginning of the end for Edun’s tenure.
Despite Edun’s attempts to mend relations, including a trip to Lagos to meet Tinubu, his access to the president became increasingly restricted. Insiders viewed the appointment of Oyedele as the final indication that Edun’s time in the cabinet was drawing to a close.
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