President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday effected a minor cabinet reshuffle, swapping Ministers of State for Power and Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Darius Dickson and Hajia Zainab Ibrahim-Kuchi, respectively.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed this after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the president at the State House.

According to Abati, the president directed that Dickson should, with effect from next week, move to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as Minister of State while Ibrahim-Kuchi should take charge as Minister of State for Power.

"In that regard, the Minister of State Power Mr. Darius Dickson becomes the Minister of State Niger Delta and the Minister of State Niger Delta, Hajia Zaina Kuchi, becomes the Minister of State Power," Abati said

Reacting to questions from State House correspondents, Abati explained that the change had nothing to do with the situation of power in the country.

He maintained that the power situation had continued to improve even after the exit of the former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji.

Abati also disclosed that the President directed that FEC would not accept any fresh memorandum on contract with effect from the end of November.

He explained that the deadline for the submission of memorandum under the 2012 Budget by the Council would be November 30.