Jonathan heads power ministry in new cabinet
Headlines Apr 6, 2010

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) in a group photograph with members of the Federal Cabinet shortly after the re-constitution of the Executive Council of the Federation at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

*Aganga heads finance, economic team
*Diezani at Petroleum Ministry
*Akunyili retains Information Ministry
*FG splits Agric, Works Ministries

By Daniel Idonor

ABUJA—SET to make a mark within the next one year, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan is to head the nation’s moribund power industry; even as he has concluded plans to unveil new initiatives aimed at improving power supply in the next few days, in the reconstituted Federal Executive Council, yesterday.

The Acting President is to work closely with a world renowned electricity power consultant and Chairman of Independent Power Producers Association of Nigeria, Professor Barth Nnaji, who currently heads government’s sub-committee on power.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, shortly after the inauguration of the 38-man cabinet, said the government’s decision not to appoint a substantive Minister for the Power Ministry was deliberate.

He said: “Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, is to take charge of the Power Ministry for now. A new power team is being put in place to work in conjunction with the Professor Barth Nnaji led Power Sub-Committee of the Presidential Advisory council. This new body is to take charge of a new power initiative to be unveiled in a matter of days.”

Niboro added that “the Acting President shall chair this body, with the minister of state, power, as deputy chair. The body is to be made up of experts in the different areas of power, from generation to transmission, distribution and finance”.

The statement further disclosed that the list of two more ministerial nominees from Taraba and Ebonyi States has been sent to the Senate for clearance, adding that they were likely to take charge of the Health and Water Resources ministries.

Aganga becomes finance minister
London based Managing Director of Goldman Sachs, Mr. Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga was sworn-in as the new Minister of Finance and Chairman of the National Economic Team, a body that will be charged with the responsibility of repositioning the Nigerian economy.

The Acting President has, successfully, split the overloaded ministries of Works, Lands, Housing and Urban Development; and the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. These were, hitherto, left untouched, despite repeated promises by ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua to de-merge the two ministries.

Top from left: Communications And Information Minister Prof. Dora Akunyili; Mines and Steel Development Minister, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada; Works Minister Senator Sanusi Daggash; Foreign Affairs Minister Henry Odein Ajumogobia. Bottom from left; Commerce And Industry Minister Jubril Martins Kuye; Interior Minister Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho; Defence Minister Prince Adetokunbo Kayode and Justice Minister Mohammed Bello Adoke.

Also appointed was Mr. Aderemi Babalola, the immediate past Minister of State for Finance, who retained his portfolio, even as he becomes the Vice Chairman of the economic team.

Contrary to expectation and speculations, the Acting President, decided that the portfolio of the Petroleum Resources Ministry be given to the immediate past Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; even as Jonathan did not appoint a Minister of State for the ministry.

The immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, is now the Minister of Defence, and will be assisted by the son of late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Alhaji Murtala Shehu Yar’Adua

Former Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, is now the Minister of Foreign Affairs with former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

A one-time Minister of the National Planning Commission, Sen. Sanusi Dagash, is now to head the Ministry of Works while the man, many thought would head the Petroleum ministry, Engr. Chris Ogiemwinyi, from Edo State is now the Minister of State for Works.

The Lands, Housing & Urban Development components of the former Ministry of Works, following its split, now has Hon. Nduese Essien, as its substantive Minister.

Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah heads Agriculture while Mr. Awodele Najeem Adewale serves as Minister of State.

Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, is the new Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, AGF, while Mrs. Fidelia Njeze moves to Aviation.

Sen. Jibril Martins Kuye is to head Commerce and Industry while Mrs. Josephine Tapgun is the Minister of State in that Ministry

Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed is the Minister of Culture and Tourism while Prof. Mrs Ruqayyatu A. Rufa’i heads the Education Ministry. Sen. Bala Muhammed is the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, while Mr. John Odey retains his former portfolio of the Environment Ministry

However, the Ministry of Health was left open with no substantive Minister, even as Alhaji Suleiman Bello was appointed as the Minister of State in the Ministry.

Akunyili retains Information portfolio

The Information and Communications Ministry portfolio was retained by Prof. Dora Akunyili, while the former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr. Labaran Maku, becomes the new Minister of State in the Ministry.

The Ministry of Interior has Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho while the immediate past Minister of State for Commerce, Mr. Humphrey Enemakwu Abah, becomes the new Minister of State in that ministry.

Mr. Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu is to oversee the Ministry of Labour and Productivity; while Mines and Steel Development now has Arc Musa Mohammed Sada, as the substantive Minister. The former Minister of State for Niger-Delta Affairs, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe, is now the substantive Minister of that ministry; with Hon. Samuel Ode as the Minister of State.

The Power Ministry, like Health, was not assigned a substantive minister, instead, the former minister of State in the Ministry, Arc. Nuhu Somo Wya was retained as the second in command.

The Police Affairs Ministry has former Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources, Alhaji Adamu Waziri, as the substantive Minister; Prof. Muhammed K. Abubakar, was appointed to head the Science and Technology Ministry.

A one-time Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, Navy Capt. Ernest Olubolade (rtd), is to head the Special Duties ministry; while Yusuf Sulaiman becomes the minister of Transport.

Immediate past Minister of Youth Development, Sen. Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, retains his job; just as the his former colleague in the National Planning Commission, NPC, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, returned as the NPC boss.

Wife of former Minister of Works and National Leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, Mrs. Iyom Josephine Anenih, is now the new Minister of Women Affairs.

The former Minister of Transport, Hon. Ibrahim Isa Bio, now heads the National Sports Commission; while Water Resources now split from Agriculture is yet to have a minister.

CABINET LIST

Ministry Name of Ministers

1. Agriculture 1. Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah
2. Mr. Awodele Najeem Adewale
2. Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN
3. Aviation Mrs. Fidelia Njeze
4. Commerce & Industry 1.Sen. Jibril Martins Kuye
2. Mrs. Josephine Tapgun
5. Culture& Tourism Abubakar Sadiq A. Mohammed
6. Education 1.Prof. (Mrs) Ruqayyatu A. Rufa’i
7. FCT Senator Bala Muhammed
8. Environment Mr. John Ogar Odey
9. Finance 1. Mr. Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga
2. Mr. Aderemi W. Babalola
10. Foreign Affairs 1. Mr. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN
2. Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong
11.Health 1. -
2. Alhaji Suleiman Bello
12. Information & Comm 1. Prof. Dora Akunyili
2. Mr. Labaran Maku
13. Interior 1. Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho
2. Mr. Humphrey Enemakwu Abah
14. Labour & Productivity Mr. Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu
15. Mines & Steel Devt Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada
16. Niger Delta Affairs 1. Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe
2. Hon. Samuel Ode
17.Petroleum Resources 1. Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke
18. Defence 1. Chief Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN
2. Murtala Shehu Yar’Adua
19. Power 1. Ag President Goodluck Jonathan
2. Arc. Nuhu SomoWya
20. Police Affairs Alhaji Adamu Waziri
21. Science & Technology Prof. Muhammed K. Abubakar
22. Special Duties Navy Capt. Earnest Olubolade (Rtd)
23. Transport Yusuf Sulaiman
24. Youth Development Sen. Akinlabi Olasunkanmi
25. Women Affairs Mrs. Josephine Anenih
26. Natl Planning Comm Dr. Shamsudeen Usman
27. Natl Sports Comm Hon. Ibrahim Isa Bio
28. Works 1. Sen. Sanusi M. Dagash
2. Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi
29. Lands, & Urban Devt Hon. Nduese Essien