Ministers to take Oath of office today in Abuja

The first batch of confirmed ministers will today take their oaths of office. The occassion, which will be presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, will begin at 11am at the Council Chambers of the

Presidential Villa.





Ministers and accredited family members are to be seated at 10 a.m. before the swearing-in and assignment of portfolios.
14 ministers were confirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic on Wednesday and Thursday.
The remaining ministers are to be screened by the Senate on Tuesday.
The 14 already confirmed are former ministers of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe; Labour and Prodactivity, Emeka Wogu; Health, Professor Onyebuchu Chukwu; Education, Prof. Ruqqayattu Rufai; Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed and former FCT minister of state, Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd).
Others are former ministers of National Planning, Dr. Ahasudden Usman; Mines and Steel, Mr. Mohammed Musa Sada; Information and Communication, Labaran Maku; Transport, Yusuf Suliaman; former Attorny General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, as well as new appointees, Hajia Zainab Maina and Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi.
Although the swearing-in is coming a month behind schedule, government activities are expected to peak in line with the President’s promise to hit the ground running immediately after his inauguration.
It will also be recalled that a presidential sources had attributed the delay in the submission of the list of ministerial nominees to the restructuring of the functions of top personnels of the Presidency and complete overhaul of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), in line with the policy direction of the government.
President Jonathan, the source had stated, wanted clear-cut duties for appointees before their appointments in order to avoid duplication of functions."