Libreville - Gabon's first cabinet meeting under new President Ali Bongo Ondimba concentrated on moves to scale down the size of the government, said an official statement published on Tuesday.
The daily L'Union reported that the government had decided to abolish the president's private cabinet, and suppress other posts within the presidency and government ministries.
L'Union published a statement which said the measures were "to help strengthen public income by giving priority to spending of national interest". During his electoral campaign, Bongo had proposed a government of just 30 members, instead of the usual team of about 50.
The cabinet meeting also specified the number of staff ministers could take on, in an attempt to change the tradition of giving jobs to family and friends.
Continues Below ↓
The statement said the government would seek to "put an end to promotions sometimes guided by ethnic closeness, clan issues and political nepotism".
Bongo was sworn in on October 16 after he won hotly disputed elections to replace his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who died in June after 41 years in office.
Once sworn in, Bongo said he had reappointed the incumbent prime minister, 53-year-old Paul Biyoghe Mba, who held the post for the last three months.
"I believe that he is the appropriate person to lead us through the next stage," said Bongo, urging Biyoghe Mba to start picking his cabinet.
His predecessor as interim head of state, Rose Francine Rogombe, resumed her place on Tuesday as speaker of the Senate.
Senators thanked Rogombe, the first woman head of the chamber, for "conducting the transition with wisdom, in peace, consultations and respect for the constitution". - Sapa-AFP
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
