News / Africa

Nigeria Swears in 14 Ministers

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, center, inspects a guard of honor during his inauguration ceremony at the main parade ground in Nigeria's capital of Abuja, May 29, 2011
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, center, inspects a guard of honor during his inauguration ceremony at the main parade ground in Nigeria's capital of Abuja, May 29, 2011
TEXT SIZE - +

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has sworn in 14 members of his Cabinet, asking them to get straight to work.

Twelve of the appointees who took the oath of office Saturday served in Jonathan's previous Cabinet in the same ministries.  Two are new appointees; Jonathan says they will receive their assignments on Monday.

The president's Cabinet choices are being closely watched in Nigeria and internationally, by creditors and others who hope Jonathan's team can bring needed reforms to Africa's most populous nation.

Among those returning are Jonathan's ministers of national planning, mines, information and justice, and the minister in charge of Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta state.

Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was reappointed Saturday despite being criticized for delays in passing long-promised reforms in the energy industry, which has been plagued by corruption.

Jonathan has so far nominated 34 people to his Cabinet.  Most are awaiting approval by the country's Senate, which is due to resume screening candidates during the coming week.


You May Like

South Africa to Host World's Biggest Telescope

South Africa competed against Australia to host the telescope, the final decision was to split the SKA between the two countries More

Report: Global Warming Could Reverse Development

World Bank study says warmer climates threaten advances and could exacerbate poverty in world’s poorest regions More

Video Inmates Fight Fires, Gain Skills for Life After Prison

In California, physically fit inmates with no history of violent crimes can train, work as firefighters while serving their time More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Human Rights Film Festival Highlights Gender, Economic Issues

Twenty new films from around the world are screening in New York this week, as part of the 24th annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival, co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and IFC Center. The issues explored range from the rights of women, gays and the disabled, to economic justice, to political murder, torture and wrongful imprisonment. VOA’s Carolyn Weaver reports from New York.