Twelve Women Including Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Make Jonathan’s Ministerial List!

There will be at least 12 female ministers in the new federal cabinet, following the finalization of the first batch of ministerial appointees. A copy of the list of names for the first batch made available to NEXT shows that almost a third of the new ministers will be women.

The list includes names of some returning and newly appointed ministers from all the different states and geopolitical zones.

For the first time, some names on the list have been designated with some recommended portfolios, however many will still have no idea what job they are being considered for.

Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is set to make a controversial return to the executive council, is likely to retain the petroleum portfolio. Bello Haliru Mohammed, another controversial figure is in line to be handed the highly sensitive defence portfolio. Ruqqayatu Rufai and Mohammed Bello Adoke will retain the education and justice portfolios respectively.

NEXT had exclusively reported that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would be given her old job as finance minister but with many added responsibilities and powers to drive economic reform. Olusegun Aganga, the immediate past finance minister, returns to the cabinet but will be considered for minister of commerce.

Names and designation

Other designated ministers include: Emeka Nwogu, Abia; Bala Mohammed (FCT) and Mohammed Pateh, Bauchi (Health), Mrs Allison-Madueke, Bayelsa (Petroleum); Godsday Orubebe, Delta; Onyebuchi Chukwu, Ebonyi; Caleb Olubaolade, Ekiti; Shamsudeen Usman from Kano (National Planning); Olusegun Aganga, Lagos; Labaran Maku, Nasarawa (Information) and Obadiah Ando, Taraba.

Others on the list include Zainab Maina, the chairman of the Nomadic Education council, Adamawa; Ita Okon Bassey-Ewa, Akwa Ibom; Stella Oduah, Anambra; Abba Moro, Benue; Samuel Loraer Ortom, the national auditor of the PDP, Benue; Bukar Tijjani, Borno; Martina Odom, Cross River and Mike Onolememen, Edo.

Others are Barth Nnaji, who was former special adviser to the president on power, Enugu (Power); Idris Umar, Gombe; Biola Viola Onwuliri, Imo; Abiba Isah Dutse, Jigawa; Yusuf Abubakar, Kaduna; Mohaeed Musa Saada, Katsina; Bello Haliru Mohammed, Kebbi (Defence); Bolaji Abdullahi, Kwara; Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, Niger; Gbenga Ashiru, Ogun; Akinwunmi Adesina, Ogun; Omobola Johnson Olubushol, Ondo; Olushola Obada, Osun; Jumoke Akinjide, Oyo; and Jonah Madugu, Plateau.

Also on the list are Tonye Cole, Rivers (Works); Yusuf Suleiman, Sokoto (Transport); Yerima Lawan Ngama, Yobe; Bashir Yuguda, Zamfara and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Abia.

Although the Senate is likely to move ministerial screening to the top of its agenda when it resumes tomorrow, it is not yet clear when President Goodluck Jonathan, who has been under tremendous pressure from both individuals and political parties alike, will approve the final list and forward it to the National Assembly.

Source:
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