President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday dropped four ministers to enable them to pursue their respective political and economic interests, the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said.
Maku stated this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by Jonathan.
According to the Minister, those affected included Aviation minister Stella Oduah, Minister of Niger Delta, Mr Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Police Affairs, Retired Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade and Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima Ngama.
“Also today, the President announced further changes in the Federal Executive Council.
“He said a number of ministers have been asked to step out of the Federal Executive council to pursue further interest, some in politics, others in their own private focus.
“But mainly, what the President did today was to allow ministers who have indicated interest in pursuing further goals in the polity and in the economy and in the life of the country to be allowed to go.”
Maku said that the President appointed the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, as Supervising Minister of Police Affairs and Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom, as Supervising Minister of Aviation.
He said the President also directed the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Darius Ishaku to take charge as Supervising Minister of the Ministry.
Also the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also takes charge of the functions of the Minister of State for Finance.
He also denied the erroneous report in a section of the media that the former Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadhome, was sacked by the President.
Maku said the report was false and misleading adding that Oghiadhome resigned his appointment to pursue further interest in politics.
He said the council discussed the outcome of the 2013 annual conference of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group which deliberated on the nation’s agricultural sector.