Why Osinbajo's aides were sacked

The presidency has confirmed sacking 35 aides of Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo, affirming that it was engaged in shedding exercise to save
taxpayers money.

Osinbajo aides were sacked to reduce cost of governance, it explained.

In the first official statement issued since the news of the sacking
broke days ago, Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and
publicity, Garba Shehu, said on Friday that  there was no rift between
President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President contrary to media
reports.

Shehu confirmed that there was an ongoing overhaul of the presidency
which led to the non-renewal of certain political appointments.

He said, "The Presidency wishes to confirm that there is, on-going, an
unprecedented overhaul of the nation's seat of government, arising from
which, a number of political appointments have either been revoked or not
renewed in the Second Term.

"The exercise, which has been ordered by the President, is to streamline
decision-making, cut down multiple authorities and reduce the cost of
administration.

"It is also an appropriate response to the general perception that the
Presidency has an oversized and bloated workforce which acts as a drag on
efficiency.

"As may have been noticed by discerning members of the public, a number
of political appointees among the few that served in the office of the
President were not returned for Second Term.

"The office of the Vice President, His Excellency Yemi Osinbajo has, in
compliance with the directive of the President, equally been shed of a
number of such appointees.

"In carrying out these exercise, the overriding objective is to save
taxpayer money and deliver needed service to the public. As far as the
President is concerned, there is no scope for an excuse for
administration after getting a huge mandate to run the country for four
more years."

The Presidency wishes to deny any rumour of problem between President
Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the relationship
between them remains excellent.