Cabinet reshuffle on hold as FEC meeting is cancelled

Category: Lead stories Published on Thursday, 07 February 2013 05:00

The Presidency yesterday cancelled the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting without giving any reason.

The cancellation came amidst expectations of a cabinet reshuffle in which ministers are expected to swap positions.

FEC is government’s highest decision-making body presided over by the President with the Vice-President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and all the ministers in attendance. The Head of Service of the Federation and some presidential aides are also members of the council.

Some ministers who were not aware of the cancellation arrived at the villa before 10am yesterday, the usual commencement time of the meeting, but were turned back by protocol officials, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

With the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo would have presided over the meeting.

Jonathan left Abuja on Tuesday night for London and Paris to confer with the British Prime Minister David Cameron and the President of France Francois Hollande on matters of vital interests to Nigeria, Britain and France.

On Tuesday, two new ministers were given portfolios, with Prof Chinedu Nebo becoming Minister of Power, five months after the post became vacant.

But the post of substantive Minister of Defence remains vacant, as the new minister from Kebbi State Alhaji Kabiru Turaki was made Minister of Special Duties.

On Tuesday, Daily Trust reported that a cabinet reshuffle may be announced during the FEC meeting of today, in which some ministers were expected to swap positions.

But with the cancellation of the FEC meeting, the cabinet changes are apparently on hold.

President Jonathan is expected to return to Abuja on Monday.