Jonathan’s Scorecard Ready, 9 Ministers Face Sack

The performance contract signed late last year by ministers is set to claim its first casualties. Nine ministers may lose their jobs for breaching the agreement. The records now before President Goodluck Jonathan listed nine ministries as "non-performing." Daily Sun authoritatively gathered that the President may overhaul his cabinet in May, "and appoint a more focused one ahead of 2015". Presidency sources said that ministers of the nine ministries found to be "non-performing could be dropped. The names of the non-performing ministries are withheld by Daily Sun.However, Daily Sun observed that, at least, three of the affected ministries are manned by ministers believed to be very close allies of the President. Our reporter could, however, not ascertain what fate awaits the Ministers of State of "non-performing" ministries. President Jonathan had on August 22 last year chaired the signing of Performance Contracts by the ministers. He had described the "brief, yet momentous ceremony", as the " first of its kind in the history of our democracy." He had dismissed fears that the exercise was a witch-hunt, saying, "as representatives of the Nigerian people…we are accountable to them at all times." He stressed: "I had stated clearly during the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council that ministers are expected to be accountable, productive, transparent and focused." In reading the riot act, the President stressed the contract-signing would enhance performance and deliver "quality and timely services to the citizenry, improving productivity and instilling a greater sense of accountability for effective service delivery." Daily Sun, however, gathered that of the nine ministeries noted by the President as non-performing, it is only the Defence Ministry that does not have a substantive Senior Minister Daily sun