Nigeria: Ashiru, Usman, Seven Others Dropped in Cabinet Reshuffle

12 September 2013

In a move aimed at paving the way for the appointment of political loyalists that would help him secure victory in the 2015 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sacked nine ministers from his cabinet, in the first major cabinet shake-up since it was constituted in July 2011.

The ministers who were dispossessed of their portfolios are Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru, whose removal as the Minister of Foreign Affairs drew gasps from many who felt he was one of the few effective ministers in the cabinet; Dr. Shamsudeen Usman - National Planning Commission; Ms. Ama Pepple - Ministry of Lands and Housing; Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa'i - Ministry of Education; Hadiza Mailafiya - Ministry of Environment; and Prof. Ita Okon Bassey Ewa - Ministry of Science and Technology.

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