2011: 2 more ministers resign

BARELY a week after the resignation of Professor Dora Akunyili as Minister of Information and Communications, two more ministers have resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to pursue their ambition to be the governors of their states, prompting President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately name their replacements.
Those who quit the cabinet during Wednesday’s FEC meeting presided over by President Jonathan were Adamu Maina, erstwhile Minister of Police Affairs and Ibrahim Isa Bio, who was the Minister of Sports.
According to the Minster of Information and Communications, Mr Labaran Maku, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, both of them resigned to enable them to pursue their individual aspirations to be governor of Yobe and Kwara State respectively.
The Minister of State for Interior, Humphrey Abah, has now been elevated to the position of the substantive Minister of Police Affairs, while retaining his former portfolio in the Interior ministry.
Professor Taoheed Adedoja was named the new Minister of Sports even though he would combine it with his present portfolio as the Minister of Special Duties.
Maku said President Jonathan who wished them well, regretted their exit from the cabinet, knowing that they were some of the more active members of the Council.
He revealed that FEC has approved the setting up of three more federal universities, bringing the total so far approved by the Jonathan administration to nine as the president seeks to ensure that all states of the federation has a federal university and expand access to university by young school leavers in the country.
Jonathan has, therefore, directed the Education Trust Fund (ETF) to release the sum of N14.5 billion to the new universities at N1.5 billion each to enable them to take off in the coming academic session.
The nine institutions which are spread in the six geopolitical zones are specifically to be located in Taraba State (Wukari); Gombe State (no decision on town yet); Katsina State (Katsina); Bayelsa State (Otueke); Ebonyi State (Ndofu Alike); Ekiti State (Ikole-Ekiti); Kogi State (no decision yet on town); Nasarawa State (Lafia) and Jigawa State (Dutse).
Maku, who noted that only about 30 per cent of school leavers has access to university admission in the country, stated that “in spite of the challenges facing the existing federal universities, President Jonathan believes that there is still room for more. The president thinks of equity and wants each state to have a university.”
He added that decision was yet to be taken on the establishment of three others to complete the existence of at least a federal university in each of the 36 states of the federation.

Meanwhile, the power sector received a boost, on Wednesday, as more contracts were approved for award, bringing the total amount of investments in the sector this year to about N79.2 billion.
The FEC meeting of Wednesday approved a total of 25 different items that were brought for consideration and also gave the go-ahead for the implementation of a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) memo presented by President Jonathan for the upgrade of motor licensing system and number plates.
The Minister of Information said the upgrade was necessary to check the illegal duplication of motor licences and also enhance the ability of authorities to monitor criminal activities around the country.
He said new motor number plate plants would be set up in Awka, Anambra State and Abuja, to complement the existing plant in Lagos, which would also be upgraded.
Maku added that when operational, citizens would be given 12 months to upgrade their existing licences.
Other sectors which had various contracts approved for award included finance, transport, petroleum resources, health, education, national planning, commerce and industry, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
FEC then adjourned till February 19, 2011, to enable members to participate in the various activities ongoing around the country.