How sacked Minister Wale Edun yelled at Tinubu during cabinet meeting, President’s ADC had to intervene

Many Nigerians were taken by surprise on Tuesday evening following the removal of Wale Edun as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, a decision announced as part of a minor cabinet reshuffle by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also approved the appointment of Taiwo Oyedele as Edun’s replacement, while Muttaqha Rabe Darma was named Minister-designate for Housing and Urban Development.

Although the presidency described the move as part of efforts to strengthen governance under the Renewed Hope Agenda, emerging details point to months of internal tension within the economic management team.

Budget implementation and policy disagreements

According to reports, disagreements had been building over the slow pace of capital budget implementation and delays in fiscal planning, which affected Nigeria’s traditional January-to-December budget cycle.

Lawmakers had earlier accused Edun of recording “zero implementation” of the 2025 capital budget despite significant appropriations by the National Assembly, raising concerns over funding shortages across ministries and agencies.

While defending his approach, Edun had argued that the administration was avoiding “unsustainable monetary practices” and prioritising debt servicing, insisting that budget performance was on track.

Presidential dissatisfaction and internal friction

Sources within the government claim repeated interventions by President Tinubu failed to resolve growing frustrations over fiscal execution.

Tensions reportedly escalated during a Federal Executive Council meeting in December 2025, where a heated exchange allegedly occurred between the President and the finance minister over budget-related disputes.

The exchanges created such tension that the ADC to the president reportedly had to move over to Mr Edun to advise him against raising his voice at the president.

Following the incident, parts of Edun’s responsibilities were gradually reassigned to Doris Anite, the Minister of State for Finance, signaling a reduction in his influence within the economic team.

Final days in office

Insiders also suggest that attempts by Edun to repair his relationship with the President, including a visit to Lagos, did not yield the expected reconciliation.

The appointment of Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance earlier in the year was reportedly viewed within government circles as a clear indication that Edun’s position was already under review.

His eventual removal now marks the end of a closely watched tenure that began in August 2023, when he was appointed to oversee fiscal policy and economic coordination in the Tinubu administration.

Credit: Premium Times Nigeria

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