Jonathan Unveils Fed Cabinet …Diezani Madueke (Petroleum),Ajumogobia,(Foreign Affairs)

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday inaugurated the new ministers and assigned them portfolios.

According to a list of the ministers released from the State House, no substantive minister has been appointed for the Ministries of Health and Power, while the Ministry of Education has no minister of state.

Speaking at the inauguration, Jonathan warned the new ministers not to see their appointments as the allocation of privileges but a call to national duty.

He said: “You are here on national assignment and you can be reassigned with little or no notice in the national interest, for you are political administrators not operators.

“I will hate to disappoint you but I will hate even more to disappoint the nation. So, let it be clear that the collective interest of the nation will always override any narrow interests.”

Jonathan further warned that undue politicking and the promotion of needless friction in policy would not be tolerated.

“No longer must we tolerate the triumph of centrifugal forces whose main agenda is to distract and defeat the march of our people to the summit of economic self-sufficiency and political maturity,” he added.

The acting president, who expressed confidence in the new ministers, said their assignments reflected the ambition of the Federal Government to take bold steps to address problems facing the nation.

He said the oath of office and that of allegiance administered on the ministers constituted a sacred commitment to serve the nation without fear or favour.

“At the outset, let me say clearly that I have confidence in this team, which I believe reflects the ambition of the government to take bold steps in all sectors.

“Our people demand the best because mediocre performance will not be enough to meet the high expectations of the moment,” he said.

Jonathan, then stated that henceforth he would  continually monitor and evaluate their performances to achieve positive results.

He expressed optimism that the ministers would continue to work for a rigorous implementation of the policy framework of the administration.

He said that their efforts in governance must be manifested in the revamping of decaying infrastructure, including the provision of power supply, good roads, quality education,  good health and  the provision of jobs, security and commitment to free and fair elections.