Jonathan Swears-In 14 Ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan on yesterday in Abuja swore in 14 new ministers, including 12 returnees who moved back to their former ministries.

Those who returned to their ministries included the two ministers of FCT, Dr Bala Muhammed and retired Navy Capt. Earnest Olubolade as well as Mr Labaran Maku, Minister of Information and Communications.

Also returned were Mr Chukwuemeka Wogu, Labour and Productivity; Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke, Petroleum; Mohammed Bello Adoke, Justice; Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, Education; and Prof. Christian Chukwu, Health.

The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman and his National Planning counterpart, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, also returned to their former offices.

Alhaji Musa Sada was returned to the Ministry of Mines and Steels Development while Mr Godsday Orubebe retained the Niger Delta Affairs portfolio.

The president stated that the remaining two ministers, Hajiya Zainab Maina and Mrs Stella Odua-Ogiemwinyi, would be informed of their new ministries by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday.

He said the swearing in of the new ministers would be in batches to enable the ministers commence work immediately.

We are taking the ministers in batches because the Senate is still screening.

“Any group that is cleared, even if it is one, that person will take the oath of office so that the ministers will go and hit the ground running and that is why we are even doing it now,” he said.

He congratulated the ministers and charged them not to disappoint Nigerians.

“Let me congratulate those of you who have taken their oath of office today.

“Most of you are returnee ministers , it is only two people that are new here. For you, I have to congratulate you because there is always a big battle to come back.

“So, for you to have gone through and passed through the Senate screening, we congratulate you and we hope you will continue to do the work the way Nigerians expect you to do.

“Those of you who are returning are to go back to your ministries and start work immediately, but the two new ministers, the Secretary to the Government would inform you (of) your postings on Monday morning,” he said.

Among those who witnessed the swearing in ceremony were the acting Chairman of the PDP, Dr Bello Haliru, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and Gov. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa.

Wife of Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi (left) with Nigeria's Consular-General, State of Georgia, Hon. Geoffrey Teneilabe, shortly after receiving an award of excellence in Atlanta Georgia, United States of America.