Acting President Goodluck Jonathan have sacked all members of the Federal Executive Council today, Wednesday. The decision to drop the ministers was part of Dr. Jonathan’s move to take full charge of the affairs of the nation, particularly given a series of call for him to make the best use of the period before the end of the present administration’s tenure, which now remains only 14 months.
The Dissolution was announced at the end of today’s FEC meeting. No replacements for the Ministers have been announced,and none may happen until two weeks, as Mr. Jonathan will have to go through Senate approval of his nominees.
Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili, disclosed that “the Acting President did not give reason for dissolving the cabinet”; even as she added that “all ministers including myself are to handover to their respective permanent secretaries by tomorrow (today)”
She however pointed out that the dissolution of the cabinet also affect all presidential aides including special Advisers, Assistants and others stressing that “if they are form part of the cabinet it means they are also dissolved.
Many ministers who had engaged in the exchange of banters upon arrival at the Council Chambers of yesterday meeting, never expected that yesterday was going to be the last day in the Yar’Adua cum Jonathan led government.
As the meeting ended, Many of the ministers, against their custom abandoned their usual exit point from the Council Chambers, venue of the meeting, as they were seen taking different routs out of the premises; with some of them openly discussing how they intend to move swiftly to their office to collect their personal effects.
But as the meeting ended, those loyal to Yar’Adua were seen in frowning mood as they refused to take questions from reporters.
It was not however clear whether a chunk of the outgoing ministers and other cabinet members may be re appointed by the Acting President; even as it being speculated that some of them are likely coming back.