President Bola Tinubu has removed Wale Edun as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, alongside Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, in a minor cabinet reshuffle.
A statement from Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume confirmed the changes, which took effect immediately. Taiwo Oyedele, previously Minister of State for Finance, has been elevated to fill Edun’s position. 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 their history, sources indicate growing tension between the two over the administration’s handling of capital budget releases and budget planning. The government has faced criticism for disrupting Nigeria’s traditional January-to-December budget cycle, with particular scrutiny on slow capital expenditure implementation.
In February, federal lawmakers accused Edun of “zero implementation” of the 2025 capital budget, despite a N1.15 trillion allocation approved by the National Assembly. Ministries, departments, and agencies reportedly faced funding shortages and unpaid contractors. Opposition lawmakers threatened to seek 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 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.
The relationship deteriorated further following a heated exchange between Edun and Tinubu during a Federal Executive Council meeting on December 10, 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 with Tinubu, access to the president became increasingly restricted. The appointment of Oyedele was seen by insiders as the final indication that Edun’s time in the cabinet was drawing to a close.
