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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.

Photo:L-R Head of Civil Service, Steve Oronsaye,Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, Vice President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal Executive Council Meeting in Abuja, yesterday

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.

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.

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. 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..

acting President Goodluck Jonathan has sworn in members of his new cabinet.

A senior executive at the investment bank Goldman Sachs, Olusegun Aganga, has been appointed finance minister.

Thirteen members of the new cabinet are from the dissolved government, Reuters reports.

Mr Jonathan has placed former Mines Minister Deziani Allison-Madueke in charge of the country's oil ministry, a key post in the oil-rich state.

Mr Jonathan has outlined his main priorities as electoral reforms, security in the oil-producing Niger Delta, providing a more reliable power supply and fighting corruption.

In March, Mr Jonathan dissolved the entire cabinet and made new nominations, most of which were accepted by Nigeria's senate last week.

The new cabinet is expected to remain in place until elections due next year.

These are due in April but could be held in January.

President Umaru Yar'Adua has not been seen in public since he fell ill in November 2009..

Other Reports:

Dora Akunyili retains her job as Minister of Information in the new cabinet and John Odey returns to the Environment ministry.

Odein Ajumogobia is named Nigeria's Foreign Affairs minister; Dieziani Allison-Madueke becomes Petroleum Minister while Fidelia Njeze is named Aviation Minister. Olusegun Aganga is the new Finance Minister, and Godsday Orubebe is the Niger Delta Minister.

Idi Hong is minister of state for Health, while Shamsudeen Usman remains Minister of National Planning. Humphrey Abba has been named as Interior Minister.

Bello Adoke is the new Attorney General of the Federation, Adetokunbo Kayode who was formerly the AGF is now the new helsman at the Defence ministry while Murtala Yar'Adua is the minister of state.