Cabinet Reshuffle: ‘Tinubu’s Administration Lacks Knowledge Of How Sport Works’ – Former Minister, Dalung

A former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has expressed strong criticism regarding the recent decision to scrap the Ministry of Sports Development, replacing it with the previously dissolved National Sports Commission (NSC).

Speaking with Daily Independent, Dalung highlighted his concerns over the latest cabinet reshuffle, which saw significant changes including the dismantling of his former ministry.

Dalung argued that the move demonstrates a lack of understanding within the current government about the fundamental structures necessary for sports development in Nigeria.

He said, “The decision to scrap the Sports Ministry shows that gov­ernment lacked knowledge on how the sports structure works.

“Sports is like any other min­istry with political and technical components. Technical compo­nents of sports is the National Sports Commission while the Ministry of Sports serves as the political component.

“You cannot just wake up to scrap the political component of sports because it is vital for inter­national diplomacy.

“Can the Director General of the National Sports Commission sit at a meeting of Sports Minis­ters?

“Director General of National Sports Commission is going to be a core professional who will gal­vanise efforts at developing the sports while the political head of sports, the minister, will handle political aspect of sports.

“Honestly, this is a very wrong decision taking by the govern­ment and I condemn it because it will affect the overall development of sports.”