Okonjo-Iweala Absent At Swearing-in Ceremony.

FORMER Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was absent on Friday as President Goodluck Jonathan swore in 17 new ministers who were recently cleared by the Senate.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, explained to State House correspondents after the ceremony, which took place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the World Bank Managing Director had returned to the United States to tidy up her office before assuming her new position.

Meanwhile, the president failed to announce the portfolios of the new ministers, leaving the assignemnt for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, to do on Monday.

Jonathan also refrained from addressing the new ministers, until the full cabinet is in place, but he congratulated them and wished them well in their assignments.

Those who were sworn in in three batches of six persons are the Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bello Haliru Mohammed, Professor Ita Okon Bassey Ewa, Comrade Abba Moro, Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom, Alhaji Bukar Tijani and Arch. Mike Onolememen.

Others are Barth Nnaji, Sen. Idris Umar, Prof. (Mrs.) Viola Onwuliri, Olusegun Aganga, Bolaji Abdullahi and Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi.

The third batch was made up of Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, Chief (Mrs.) Olusola Obada, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama and Ambassador Bashir Yuguda.


Source:
Tribune