Jonathan carries out minor cabinet reshuffle

Nigeria's Vice President Jonathan Goodluck attends the plenary session of the Africa-South America Summit in Margarita IslandPresident Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle to fill the vacancies created by the resignation of seven ministers wishing to contest in the 2015 general elections.

This was part of the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister of State (II) for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, announced the changes while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

According to Nurudeen, the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd), is to oversee the functions of the Minister of State for Defence.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Steve Oru, is also to supervise the office of the Minister of State in the ministry.

Similarly, Mr Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, will oversee the duties of his Minister of State.

Mrs Viola Onwuliri, the Minister of State (I) for Foreign Affairs, takes over from Mr Nyesom Wike as the substantive Minister of State for Education.

Mr Kabiru Turaki, the Minister of Special Duties/ Inter-Governmental Affairs, was named the Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity.

The Ministry of Information is to be supervised by Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, the Minister of State (II) for Foreign Affairs, while Dr Khaliru Alhassan, the Minister of State for Health, is to act as the Supervising Minister of Health.