By Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday reshuffled his cabinet.
The new development was sequel to the resignation of seven ministers on Monday to pursue their governorship ambition in their respective states.
The cabinet reshuffled was disclosed at a press briefing with State House correspondents by the Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, Minister of State 1, Foreign Affairs who now oversees the Information ministry in place of Mr. Labaran Maku, who last week resigned to contest Nasarawa governorship election next year.
Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau, according to Nurudeen, had been detailed to oversee the functions of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who resigned his position as the Minister of State in the same ministry to run for Lagos State Governorship.
Professor Viola Onwuliri, who until Wednesday was the Minister of State 1 Foreign Affairs, was moved to Ministry of Education as Minister of State to replace Chief Nyesom Wike, who resigned to contest the Rivers state governorship election.
Minister of State, Heath, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, was mandated to serve as step substantive Minister of Health, the portfolio last held by Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu.
Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga is to oversee the functions of the former Minister of State in the same ministry, Chief Samuel Ortom.
Kabiru Turaki, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, will now oversee the Ministry of Labour vacated by Chief Emeka Wogu, while the substantive Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Dr. Steven Oru will for now combine the functions of his former Minister of State, Darius Ishaku, who resigned to contest the Taraba governorship election.
Also, Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the contract for the the supply and installation of a full Jet-Flight Simulator (5000 Series B737) with complete accessories for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria to be located at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.
He said the contractual sum was inclusive of all taxes payable at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment with a completion period of 24 months.
The new Information Minister made the disclosure while briefing State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting.
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