Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, has criticised the quality of officials surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that the administration could continue to face avoidable controversies unless changes are made.
Ndume made the remarks during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he discussed recent concerns surrounding the discovery of allegedly fake government agencies operating within the Presidency.
The senator argued that the development exposed weaknesses in the administration’s internal monitoring and oversight mechanisms. He maintained that President Tinubu needs competent officials capable of identifying and preventing such problems before they become public controversies.
“President Tinubu has too many kakistocrats that dominate the Presidency; unless he does something about it, they will keep messing him up,” Ndume said.
He further questioned how organisations allegedly operating without proper government authorisation could establish offices within government premises without being detected earlier.
“It is now a known thing that Nigeria has fake agencies that operate with offices. If the President had capable hands, all these mess and embarrassments wouldn’t be happening,” the lawmaker added.
Ndume also referred to investigations reportedly conducted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), saying the process had uncovered additional issues and resulted in the suspension of some permanent secretaries within the Presidency.
The senator’s comments are significant because they come from a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and highlight concerns within the governing party over administrative effectiveness.
The controversy surrounding allegedly fake agencies has raised broader questions about government oversight, accountability and the procedures used to establish and monitor official bodies.
Ndume has previously criticised aspects of the Tinubu administration while maintaining that his interventions are intended to draw attention to areas requiring improvement.
As the administration approaches the 2027 general elections, scrutiny of government performance, appointments and institutional accountability is expected to intensify.
