Posted by By Isa Sanusi on
President Olusegun Obasanjo is to sack about nine ministers in a cabinet shake up that may be announced soon. Obasanjo has already nominated their replacements who will be screened by the senate in an emergency session on Tuesday next week.
President Olusegun Obasanjo is to sack about nine ministers in a cabinet shake up that may be announced soon. Obasanjo has already nominated their replacements who will be screened by the senate in an emergency session on Tuesday next week.
The president's nominees include: Mallam Yahaya Abdulkarim from Zamfara State, Bala Kaoje from Kebbi State, Mr. Fidelis Tapgun from Plateau State, Dr. Chukwumeka Ezeife from Anambra State and the Nigerian Bar Association president, Mr. Bayo Ojo (SAN) from Kogi State.
Others are, Alhaji Abdulhamid Ahmed, from Jigawa State, Mr. Essien from Akwa Ibom State. Also nominated are; the Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum, Mr. Edmund Dakoru, the wife of the former minister of finance, Malam Adamu Ciroma; Hajiya Inna Ciroma and Hajiya Halima Tayo Alao from Kwara State.
All the ministerial nominees are presently undergoing security screening while the president has also nominated Dr. Olugbemi Akinkoye to fill the vacant slot of Ondo State in the federal executive council. The senate rejected the last nominee, Mr. Adebayo Yusuf, for failing to answer simple questions during screening.
The president had planned to reshuffle his cabinet in May but had to delay it to shop for suitable replacements while a minister from the South-West indicated intention to vacate the position voluntarily.
The senate asked its members to resume for a one day plenary session to consider the nominees and the budget issue. A member of the senate leadership yesterday said the upper chamber may extend the emergency session to Wednesday to ensure that all the ministerial nominees are screened.
President Olusegun Obasanjo had after the Osuji bribery saga, beamed a searchlight on the activities of ministers. Ministers holding key portfolios will swap ministries in a move to give the government a new look.
© 2005 Daily Trust