New Ministers
Sworn-In
Uche Aneke, Abuja
A
new Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) is in place in
Nigeria as thirty eight new ministers have been sworn-in by
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
Two former Ministers, Professor Dora Akunyili of Information and
Communications ministry and Mr. John Odey of Environment
ministry retained their former portfolios.
The other ministerial appointees are: Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke
Minister of Justice and Attorney General; Professor Ruqaiya
Rufai, Minister of Education; Senator Bala Muhammed, Minister of
Federal Character and Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Finance.
Others are Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, Minister of Petroleum;
Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, Minister of Interior; Chief
Adetokunbo Kayode, Minister of Defence and Mrs. Josephine Anenih,
Minister of Women Affairs.
Duties of nation building
While swearing in the ministers, Acting President Jonathan said
the new cabinet was ‘expected to deliver on the promise of
good governance’.
He urged the ministers to focus specifically on revamping
decaying infrastructure, including realising steady power supply
and good roads, provision of sound and quality education and
good health.
He also said that in order to fast track the process of national
development, an economic team to be headed by the Minister of
Finance would soon be constituted. It would be expected to brief
the Executive about the state of the nation every fortnight.
Meanwhile, Acting President Jonathan has appointed Alhaji Shehu
Ladan as the new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
He replaces Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo.
Yinka
