President Muhammadu Buhari may soon relieve the Minister of Communications, Barr Adebayo Shittu of his position along with some under perfoming ministers during an imminent cabinet reshuffle.
The list has been kept under wraps by the presidency and a surprise may soon spring in the next couple of weeks, Gtechnews learnt.
Some of the allegations leveled against Shittu include under performance in the thriving Information and Communication Technology, ICT, over political ambition of becoming Oyo State next Governor ,which sources close to the presidency said has downplayed his performance as expected from his purview.
Shittu is also alleged not to have fully understood the dynamics of the industry.
Recently, his over politicised ICT University proposal was jettisoned at the Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting.
According to sources, Shittu did not convince President Buhari well enough while presenting the proposed ICT university.
FEC knocked the idea off, saying, “The proposed partnership funding by the private sector and other international donors should be more evident before any government commitment can be asserted”.
Analysts in the sector said if the ICT University had been approved, it would have given a leverage to Nigeria. Although, they said, all hope is not lost and it may still be approved when a technocrat is appointed as Communication Minister.
Recall that several under utilised Digital Bridge Institute,DBI facilities belonging to the telecoms regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission are being proposed for the ICT University upgrade.
On his part, Shittu said: “For me, maybe the Federal Government did not see what I saw but since we are in a democracy, I cannot force my ideas on the majority .It is a game of minority having their way while majority have their way,” he declared.
He however ,said he was not resting on his oars over the ICT University initiative, as there are plans to continue to explore the good will within the ICT sector in order to rally more private sector to buy into the vision.
Mr. President shouldn’t bring down the hammer on my brother Shorty. There are some ministers that are not performing and they need to be replaced. Fashola, Fayemi, Ogbeh must go