VOA标准英语10月-Nigerian President Sacks 20 Ministers in Cabinet

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Nigerian President Umaru YarAdua (file photo)

The presidency² said the cabinet shake-up was to rejuvenate³ the Yar'Adua administration. The president is facing increasing criticism of his inability to meet the expectations of most Nigerians, particularly improving their lot.

The head of the non-governmental Civil Society Legislative⁴ Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, said the long-awaited changes could strengthen the administration to deliver on its promises.

"This is something a lot of people have been calling for, given the lack of direction in this government," he added. "The government was completely stagnated⁵ where you could not see any serious performance in any of the ministries⁶. Nigerians have been concerned that both the president and the ministers are not performing. I think there are a lot of concerns by many Nigerians and they believe that it is time for those ministers who are not performing to go."

The reorganization did not affect key ministries such as finance, defense⁷ and foreign affairs. President Yar'Adua presides over a 44-member cabinet, with a representative from each of Nigeria's 36 states.

The president is expected to submit a list of nominees⁸, to replace the dismissed ministers, to the parliament for approval. The ruling party has an overwhelming majority in both houses of parliament.

Mr. Yar'Adua made sweeping⁹ changes to the structure of his ministries last month in a prelude¹⁰ to the reorganization.

The 57-year-old leader is most certain to announce a minister for a separate ministry¹¹ tasked with pacifying¹² the oil-rich Niger Delta¹³ where militants¹⁴ are fighting for a greater share of the region's oil wealth.

The president's victory at the 2007 presidential election is being challenged at the Supreme¹⁵ Court amid persistent¹⁶ rumors¹⁷ that he has health problems.

Mr. Yar'Adua says he will step down if the court eventually rules the poll was invalid¹⁸.