Beaf:

[size=14pt]Jonathan to reshuffle cabinet next week [/size]
Elizabeth Archibong and Emmanuel Ogala
August 5, 2010 03:37AM

The plot of the nation's political drama thickens as President Goodluck Jonathan plans to reshuffle his cabinet next week, said sources privy to the decision.

As politicians in the last few weeks focused on zoning and its attendant problems or benefits, Mr. Jonathan, who political watchers say never ceases to surprise, was doggedly entrenching his hold on the nation's polity.

A few days back, he forwarded the names of three nominees to the Senate for approval as new ministers. It was not immediately clear, however, who the new people will replace. The Senate has acknowledged the receipt of the nominees and decided to reconvene Tuesday next week to screen, and possibly confirm them.

Although the Senate would not reveal the identities of the nominees, it was confirmed that the candidates, two men, and a woman, are from Yobe, Delta, and Borno states. A source further confirmed that one of them is a member of an opposition party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Curiously, Mr. Jonathan's action is coming nine months to the end of his administration and he still refuses to confirm if he will be contesting in next year's presidential election or not. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo also effected such a cabinet reshuffle towards the end of his second term in 2006 when he re-assigned Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from ministry of finance to foreign affairs.

The usual suspects

Sources confirmed that the proposed changes will most likely affect the finance minister, Olusegun Aganga and the minister of state for finance, Remi Babalola. It was unclear if Mr Babalola's statement last month that the state oil company, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was broke led to his been considered for possible removal. Mr. Babalola had told a group of journalists during a workshop on "Understanding the operations of the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria" organised by the NNPC for members of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), that the only reason the corporation has not paid the ₦450 billion debt owed to the federal government was "its cash flow problem." He reportedly lost favour with Mr. Jonathan after that statement.

At the federal executive council meeting that took place after Mr. Babalola's comment, the council denied, through Dora Akunyili, the Information minister, that NNPC was insolvent.

"NNPC, from the auditor's account, is a going concern, and does not have solvency issue as a corporation. Therefore, categorically, NNPC is not insolvent," Mrs. Akunyili said.

She added that there will always be an outstanding balance between the federal government and the oil giant because of the regular transactions between them.

One of the nominees is supposed to fill the vacancy in the power ministry which had no substantive minister, apart from the junior minister. The others are expected to fill the junior minister positions in the petroleum and foreign affairs ministries.

Although the cabinet reshuffle was not mentioned during the briefing that followed the federal executive council meeting yesterday, the Presidency is said to be awaiting the senate's endorsement of the nominees whose names are currently en route to the national assembly.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5602996-146/jonathan_to_reshuffle_cabinet_next_week.csp

chyz:

I said it before GJ favors northerners. He gives every position that commands great power in change to northerners. And now he may get rid of Aganga and Babalola because they are truthful people. I guess the northerners must be in the moves the making GJ an Emir or something.

chyz:

I said it before GJ favors northerners. He gives every position that commands great power in change to northerners. And now he may get rid of Aganga and Babalola because they are truthful people. I guess the northerners must be in the moves the making GJ an Emir or something.

It was unclear if Mr Babalola's statement last month that the state oil company, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was broke led to his been considered for possible removal. Mr. Babalola had told a group of journalists during a workshop on "Understanding the operations of the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria" organised by the NNPC for members of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), that the only reason the corporation has not paid the ₦450 billion debt owed to the federal government was "its cash flow problem." He reportedly lost favour with Mr. Jonathan after that statement.

At the federal executive council meeting that took place after Mr. Babalola's comment, the council denied, through Dora Akunyili, the Information minister, that NNPC was insolvent"NNPC, from the auditor's account, is a going concern, and does not have solvency issue as a corporation. Therefore, categorically, NNPC is not insolvent," Mrs. Akunyili said.

One of the nominees is supposed to fill the vacancy in the power ministry which had no substantive minister, apart from the junior minister. The others are expected to fill the junior minister positions in the petroleum and foreign affairs ministries.

The others are expected to fill the junior minister positions in the petroleum and foreign affairs ministries.

Nchara:

What makes Aganga and Babalola (or any other of those politicians/appointees) truthful? We ascribe too much to them. Gullible Nigerians. I am sure some of them are already helping themselves to our collective heritage. Na 2 day?

Eddeux:

Wasn't Aganga working for Goldman Sachs in the UK before taking the job? And he's gonna get sacked? 

OAM4J:

it's all speculations.

chyz:

I said it before GJ favors northerners. He gives every position that commands great power in change to northerners. And now he may get rid of Aganga and Babalola because they are truthful people. I guess the northerners must be in the moves the making GJ an Emir or something.

oyb:

when will verbal diahreaa akunyuli be shown the door ?

mikeansy:

If you like appoint Ben Bernanke or Mervin King as Finance Minister. If there is no political will to achieve result at the top of leadership nothing will be achieved.

seanet02:

its incredible you can say this with all what she did for this country
seems you are from SAHARA DESERT

can you please remind me what good she has done for this country

Remi Babalola is a man of integrity, if he says that NNPc is INSOLVENT, then it is! It would be a shame on GEJ if Babalola and Aganga are given the boot!

seanet02:

its incredible you can say this with all what she did for this country
seems you are from SAHARA DESERT

Beaf:

Its more likely Aganga will be given more power, especially after the gaff by one of his junior ministers.

seanet02:

its incredible you can say this with all what she did for this country
seems you are from SAHARA DESERT