The proposed cabinet reshuffle by President Umaru Yar’Adua may have started creating ripples in different ministries in view of reports that the President was set to make a sweeping reorganisation.

Against this background, activities in most ministries and parastatal agencies in Abuja have been low keyed as observed since last week, even as most ministers were not in their offices on Monday by midday when the our correspondent visited the Federal Secretariat.

Indications that most of the ministries would not be vibrant until after the cabinet shake-up emerged with the postponement of major assignments by certain ministers for fear of being embarrassed after a sudden announcement of cabinet changes.

Some ministers’ aides who spoke on the state of suspense of their respective ministers said that the ministers were looking towards tomorrow’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting with the expectations that the Presidency would resolve the issue once and for all thereafter.


It was the general consensus among civil servants who commented that if nothing happens after the FEC meeting, the President may not afterall embark on any major cabinet shake-up because the year is coming to an end.


There have been reports that President Yar’Adua has resolved finally to shake up his cabinet based on the reported low performance of the cabinet as currently constituted, even as the Presidency is said to be shopping for technocrats to form the new cabinet.


It was also reported that President Yar’Adua had been involved personally in the screening of candidates pencilled in for cabinet appointments, while the Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, was quoted as saying that Yar’Adua’s government was serious about effecting a cabinet change.


The last FEC meeting had approved the de-merging of some ministries against the policy of the last government while it created the ministry of Niger Delta

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has inaugurated the management board of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), with a mandate to ensure that the institution is smoothly, effectively, professionally and academically run.

Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, the Governor recalled that the LASUTH, which was established in 2003, has hitherto functioned as a unit under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.

He said that the massive investment in the institution, the growing number of patients and the need for improved quality of care as reflected in the increasing number of petitions and cases of mismanagement informed the establishment of LASUTH.

Governor Fashola said both the past and present administrations had transformed the institution by undertaking its massive face-lift, thereby conferring on it a status befitting of a tertiary institution. He pointed out that there is added responsibility on the board to ensure that the institution is taken to greater heights

He said: "LASUTH can now boast of new and modern medical equipment, ultra-modern laboratory, critical care unit, new medical/surgical emergency wards, wards complex, dental centre, and ultra-modern theatre with sophisticated equipment, among others and managed by qualified and dedicated staff. Thus, it is the duty of the board to ensure that the lofty idea behind government’s investment in this regard is attained."

Fashola said that the institution has been accredited to run post-graduate residency training, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a German University in its quest for qualitative personnel development. He urged the 13-member board to rise up to the challenge of managing the institution effectively and efficiently. .

Responding on behalf of members of the new board, its chairman, Dr Nurudeen Olowopopo, said that his board will not only be in the forefront of government’s desire to improve the quality of health care delivery in Lagos State, but will also ensure that the best practices of health care are achieved.