OF MINISTERS SPECIAL ADVISERS AND SPECIAL ASSISTANTS Page 1 of 5

OF MINISTERS, SPECIAL ADVISERS AND SPECIAL ASSISTANTS

By

Bolaji Aluko, PhD

Shadow Special Information Minister on Nigerian Affairs (Diaspora Division)

My People:

At last count, we have: 40 as-yet-unportfolioed federal ministers and 34 special assistants, senior special assistants, advisers and special advisers in the Offices of the President and Vice-President.

74 jobs for the boys and girls – down from 99 or so. Good job, Baba, for bureaucratic bloat trimming!

But em, would you be minister one day, and then be Special Adviser the other, and not feel demoted?

And what is "Honorary Special Adviser on Agriculture" to do, Audu Ogbe? Give us "honorary food?"

And read this: National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Alhaji Ahmed Abdulkadir - Special Adviser on Manufacturing and Private Sector. Will he have time to be both Special Adviser in this vital sector as well as AD Chair? Indications are that he intends to stay "kampe", with the indisputable logic that it is not unprecedented at least in the AD!

"Wanders" will never "seize" in our country.

Well, sha, now let the new government begin!

Bolaji Aluko

Shadow Special Information Minister on Nigerian Affairs (Diaspora Division)

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June 27, 2003

Sufuyan Ojeifo & Ben Agande Wednesday, June 25, 2003

ABUJA — THE Senate yesterday unveiled President ’s 40 nominees for ministerial appointment with five members of his cabinet during his first term making the list submitted to the upper chamber of the National Assembly for screening.

The six are former Minister of Industry, Dr. (), former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun (), former Minister of Education, Prof. Babalola Borishade (), former Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Elder Odion Ugbesia and former Minister for Water Resources, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari ( State) and former Minister of State for Transport, Alhaji (Bauchi).

The fresh nominees are: Mrs Ngozi Iweala (Abia), Alhaji (Adamawa), Mrs. (Akwa Ibom), Chief (Anambra), Hajia Bintu Ibrahim Musa (Borno), Senator (Cross River), Dr. Roland Oritsejafor (Delta), Mr. (Delta), Chief Franklin Ogbuawu (Ebonyi), Mr. (Junior) (Enugu), Alhaji Musa Mohammed (Gombe), Professor Fabia Osuji (Imo), Alhaji Saleh Shehu (Jigawa), Malam Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Nenadi Esther Usman (Kaduna), Mohammed Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso (Kano), Dr. Saidu Samaila Sambawa (Kebbi).

Others are Prof. (Kogi), Chief (Kwara), Princess Funke Adedoyin (Kwara), Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe (Lagos), Alhaji Husaini Zannuwa Akwanga (Nasarawa), Alhaji Abubakar Tanko (Niger), Ambassador (Ogun), Chief (Mrs.) Mobolaji Osomo (Ondo), Dr. Adewale Oladipo (Osun), Mr. Akinlolu Olujimi (Oyo), Mr. Bamidele Dada (Oyo), Engineer Mohammed Musa (Plateau), Dr. Sekibo Abiye (Rivers), Alhaji (Taraba), Senator Lawan Gana Guba (Yobe) and Col. (Zamfara).

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who presided over yesterday’s sitting of the Senate announced the names of the nominees before he directed the Clerk to circulate the list to Senators. The screening of the nominees will take place tomorrow consequent upon the release, today, of the procedures for the screening by the senate leadership.

As an important aspect of the screening process, the nominees were quickly informed yesterday by Senator Arthur Nzeribe that they should ensure that they submit their asset declaration forms along with their

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curriculum vitae, an information which the Senate leadership affirmed.

This Day (Lagos)

June 25, 2003 Posted to the web June 25, 2003

Josephine Lohor

President Olusegun Obasanjo has approved the reappointment of Chief as the Chairman of the Development Commission (NDDC) for a second term. Ugochukwu's reappointment was among 19 special advisers, senior special assistants and special assistants whose appointments were released yesterday.

Also appointed was Mrs. O.K. Ezekwesili, who is to head the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit and ensure implementation of the Federal Government's Due Process programme. She is to report directly to the president.

Professor Julius Ihonvbere has also been named Special Adviser to the President.

The two special advisers who are to serve under the vice president are Prof. Mike Kwanashie, Social and Economic Affairs and Prof. A.D. Yahaya, Political Affairs.

Former Managing Director of Triumph Newspapers, Kano, Garba Shehu, is the special assistant Media Affairs.

Dr. Ahmed Ajuji, special assistant, Development Co'operation; Mrs. Tokunboh Adeola, special assistant, National Economic Council (NEC) and Private Sector Liaison; Dr. Musa K. Omar, special assistant, Economic Policy Research and Analysis.

Also to serve under the vice president are Dr. Umar Ardo, special assistant, Research and Analysis; Barchir Y. Ibrahim, special assistant I, National Assembly Matters; Mr. Phil Agbasi, special assistant II, National Assembly Matters; Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, senior special sssistant, Policy and Programme Monitoring; Mr. Yima Sen, special assistant, Policy and Programme Monitoring and Dr. Maxwell Gidado, senior special assistant/counsel, Legal and Constitutional Matters.

Dr. Adeolu Akande becomes special assistant, Research and Communications Strategies; Dr. C.K. Okolacha, special assistant Speech Writing; Mr. Chris Mammah, formerly special assistant, Media Relations to the Vice Preident, now becomes senior special assistant, special Duties; Mr. Shima Ayati, special assistant, Special Duties; Mr. Nath Yaduma, special assistant, Special Groups and Interests and Brig-General Ja'Afaru Isa (rtd), special assistant, Special Projects.

VANGUARD 6/27 Obasanjo names Gana, Maduekwe, Agabi, 12 others special advisers

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By Charles Ozoemena Friday, June 27, 2003

ABUJA—FIVE members of the last Federal Executive Council including Professor , Chief and Mrs Modupe Adelaja were yesterday, named as special advisers to President Olusegun Obasanjo. Also appointed presidential special advisers are former presidential aspirant of the ANPP, Chief , National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Alhaji Ahmed Abdulkadir, and renowned Ifa priest, Professor Wande Abimbola.

The President, according to a statement in Abuja retained Lt-Gen. Aliyu Muhammed (rtd) as National Security Adviser (NSA) and Dr. Rilwan Lukman as Special Adviser on Petroleum and Energy.

Following is the full list of the special advisers:

* Prof. Charles Solude [SP: SOLUDO] - Chief Economic Adviser;

* Professor Jerry Gana - Special Adviser (Political);

* Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), (immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation) - Special Adviser (Ethics and Good Governance);

* Chief Ojo Maduekwe (former Transport Minister) - Special Adviser (Constitutional and Legal Matters);

* Alhaji Abba Gana (former FCT Minister) - Special Adviser (Relations with Civil Society);

* Chief Audu Ogbeh (National Chairman, PDP) - Honorary Special Adviser on Agriculture;

* Mrs Modupe Adelaja (former Minister of Solid Mineral Resources), Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of ;

* Chief Rochas Okorocha – Special Adviser (Inter-Party Relations).

* Alhaji Ahmed Abdulkadir, National Chairman, Alliance for Democracy (AD) - Special Adviser (Manufacturing and Private Sector);

* Mrs. Dupe Sasore- Special Adviser (African Growth and Opportunity Act - AGOA);

* Professor Wande Abimbola - (Special Adviser, Cultural Affairs and Traditional Matters);

* Mrs. Florence Ita-Giwa, Special Adviser (National Assembly Affairs);

* Alhaji Lawal Batagarawa, Special Adviser (Non-party Relations);

* Mr. Bode Augusto, Director General/Adviser on Budget;

* Engr. Stanley Dako - Informal Sector Coordinator/Adviser.

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June 2003

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