Dalung Labels Former Finance Minister Wale Edun a “Misfit” in Tinubu’s Government

 

ABUJA— Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barr. Solomon Dalung, has described former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, as a “misfit” in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking in an interview with Trust TV News, Dalung said Edun is his friend but claimed the former minister “tolerated the government until his integrity was going to break.” Dalung did not provide further details to substantiate the claim during the interview.

Edun’s Exit From Cabinet

Edun was removed as Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy in a cabinet reshuffle announced on April 21, 2026. He was directed to hand over to Taiwo Oyedele, who previously served as Minister of State for Finance. The reshuffle also saw the removal of Housing Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.

The Presidency gave conflicting explanations for Edun’s departure. Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga said Edun “duly tendered his resignation from office, citing health reasons,” adding that Edun submitted his resignation on April 20, his 70th birthday. However, a memo by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, announced Edun’s removal alongside Dangiwa and said the changes were aimed at “strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy.” Several reports described the move as a sack.

In a statement after his exit, Edun thanked President Tinubu and said serving was an “honour and a privilege.” He noted that the administration “inherited a fragile economy” but worked to stabilise the macroeconomic environment, adding that growth improved from about 2% to over 4%, while inflation declined from 35% to 15% during his tenure.

Backstory to Removal

Multiple reports cited tensions over fiscal performance as a factor in Edun’s exit. Insider accounts pointed to poor release of capital funds and weak implementation of the 2025 budget. During a February 2026 House Committee hearing, lawmakers said ₦1.15 trillion approved for capital projects saw “zero” implementation despite revenue of ₦28 trillion against a ₦25 trillion target. The Ministry of Health reportedly received only ₦38 million out of ₦286 billion allocated.

Edun had also disclosed a ₦30 trillion revenue shortfall during the December 2025 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework defence, saying actual revenue was tracking at ₦10.7 trillion against a ₦40.8 trillion projection. He confirmed only 30% of the 2025 capital budget had been funded.

Other reports referenced health concerns, noting Edun was rushed to London for medical treatment in October 2025 and missed IMF/World Bank meetings. Premium Times also reported a heated exchange between Edun and the President at a December Federal Executive Council meeting.

Market Reaction and Economic Context

Edun’s removal sent mixed signals across the economy. The naira depreciated to N1,350.74 against the dollar following the announcement. The move came as the IMF downgraded Nigeria’s growth forecast to 4.1% from 4.3%, citing pressures from global shocks. Edun had recently attended the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, where he said Nigeria would not seek an IMF bailout.

Edun spearheaded Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate liberalization. Under his watch, GDP growth rose to 4.07% in Q4 2025, up from 2% in 2023, while inflation eased to 15% from 22.04%. Despite improved indicators, high living costs and food prices persisted.

Dalung’s Recent Comments

Dalung, who served as Sports Minister from 2015 to 2019, has been critical of government officials in recent interviews. He recently blamed ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s legal troubles on his decision to “surrender” to authorities, calling it a “misstep.” He also attributed a wave of defections to the APC to the “need for protection over alleged corruption cases.”

There has been no official response from Wale Edun or the Presidency regarding Dalung’s “misfit” comment as of press time.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ADC Constitutes National Convention Committees; Imoke, Tambuwal, Utomi, and Others to Lead

Image
 ADC Constitutes National Convention Committees; Imoke, Tambuwal, Utomi, and Others to Lead ​mattersarising6060@gmail.com 9th April, 2026 ABUJA – In preparation for its upcoming National Convention, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced the constitution of several high-powered committees and sub-committees. The move, aimed at ensuring a seamless and successful event, involves a diverse group of prominent political figures, technocrats, and seasoned professionals. ​The National Convention is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. In a statement signed by the National Organising Secretary, Prince Chiedu Idigo, the party also issued a notice for an inaugural meeting of all committees today, Thursday, April 9, at the National Secretariat in Abuja. ​Leadership of the Central Coordination Committee Leading the charge is the National Convention Central Coordination Committee, which will serve as the official coordinating secretariat for the event. The committee ...
Read more

Graduate Breaks Down After Seeing Former Classmate on the Street, What Happened Will Shock You

Image
Mattersarising6060@gmail.com A deeply emotional encounter between two former classmates on a public street has drawn attention to the often-overlooked challenges faced by individuals who drop out of school due to circumstances beyond their control. According to eyewitness accounts, a graduate reportedly broke down in tears after recognizing a former classmate now living in a distressed mental state. Overwhelmed with emotion, the graduate recalled how the individual had once been a source of academic and financial support during their school years. “You were always the one helping me during exams and even supporting me financially. What went wrong?” the graduate was heard asking. In response, the former classmate attributed his current condition to prolonged family challenges, alleging that his stepmother had consistently worked against his progress. The statement was delivered with visible distress, further intensifying the emotional scene. Observers say the incident underscores the co...
Read more

BREAKING: INEC Shelves Nationwide Voter Revalidation Until After 2027 Polls

Image
  Matters Arising 6060   mattersarising6060@gmail.com April 10, 2026. ABUJA— In a significant policy shift, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the postponement of its much-anticipated nationwide voter revalidation exercise. The decision was made during a high-stakes meeting between the Commission and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held today, Friday, April 10, 2026. The Decision In a press statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC confirmed that the revalidation exercise will now take place after the 2027 General Election. While the statement did not explicitly outline the reasons for the delay, the decision has already sparked intense discussions among stakeholders about the preparedness of the voter register for the upcoming elections. What is Voter Revalidation? For those unfamiliar, voter revalidation is essentially the "health check" of Niger...
Read more