President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday relieved nine ministers in his cabinet of their positions.
Those dropped are six substantive ministers and three junior ministers. They are: Prof. Ruqqayat Ruf’ai- Education, Olugbenga Ashiru- Foreign Affairs, Dr Samsudeen Usman- National Planning, Ms Ama Pepple- Housing and Urban Development, Hadiza Mailafia- Environment and Prof Bassey Ewa- Science and Technology.
The Ministers of State dropped are: Zainab Kurchi- Power, Bukar Tijjani – Agriculture and Olusola Obada- Defence.
Interestingly, there was no sign that ministers would be dropped. President Jonathan delayed the announcement till towards the end of the cabinet meeting.
Recently, the president sacked the Minsiter of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir, for what the Presidency handling the election of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in a manner that did not go down well with the President.
In all, 12 ministers are now to be replaced. It will be recalled that the President had sacked the then Minister of Defence, Haliru Bello, alongside late National Security Adviser, Gen Owoye Azazi.
Also, Minister of State for Health, Dr Mohammed Ali Pate resigned recently from the Cabinet to take up teaching appointment at a university in the United States.
Addressing State House correspondents after the Cabinet meeting, the Minister of Information, Labran Maku, had this to say, “The President-in-Council expressed satisfaction and happiness over their commitment to government since they were appointed.
“He also thanked them for their service to their fatherland and said he will continue to engage them in one way or the other in the implementation of the transformation agenda and of course in the various challenges that government faces around the country and in terms of efforts to transform to our country.
“Also following this, a list will be sent to the National Assembly, to the senate specifically for the confirmation of new ministers and once that is ready and sent I am sure the Presidency will announce the list of the new ministers that will replace the ministers that were affected in the reshuffle”.
