THE issue of cabinet reshuffle has returned to the front burner of the agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, ahead of the second anniversary of his administration on May 29, the Nigerian Tribune can reveal.
Sources close to the government told the Nigerian Tribune that the president had been looking at the performance indicators in the different ministries in recent times, especially with close looks at the performance bond the ministers were made to sign last year.
Sources confirmed that President Jonathan, who is not given to frequent changes in the running of his government, had allowed the ministers to spend some time on their assignments, so as to ensure stability in the various ministries.
The belief in the government, according to sources, was that with frequent changes, there would arise the complaint of instability and that such could affect performance.
“There is a popular opinion that only a number of ministers are working and projecting the administration in positive light, while some are merely warming the chairs,” a source said, adding that those who had been found below expectation would soon be relieved of their appointments.
Recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings had also been devoted to X-raying the performance of the ministers, with some of the appointees merely reeling out submissions made to them by the bureaucrats.
A source close to the government said though most of the submissions had been applauded at the FEC, the president had his own independent assessment strategies.
It was confirmed, however, that two camps had emerged in the running up to the expected cabinet reshuffle.
A source said while the president was still said to be compiling the list of those to be dropped, some forces in government were said to have started banding the names of some performing ministers, in order to create tension in the system.
The source said while some ministers might be reassigned, no fewer than 10 would be asked to go.