The acting president of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan
has dissolved the government.
The announcement comes a month
after he assumed executive powers
because of the long illness of President Umaru Yar'Adua.
Peter Greste reports from Abuja.
There has been talk of a cabinet reshuffle
for weeks now,
ever since the national assembly moved Goodluck Jonathan
from vice president to acting president two months ago.
But few people expected the wholesale dissolution
that came on Wednesday.
He made no public statement,
but the outgoing Information Minister Dora Akunyili
said parliament's secretaries would take charge of the ministries
until a cabinet is appointed.
Not all ministers will lose their jobs,
some will be reappointed,
but this kind of sweeping change makes it clear
the acting president is trying to assert his control
over the cabinet made up largely of President Yar'Adua's appointees.