Nigeria's acting president will swear his new cabinet on Tuesday, a presidency spokesman said.

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the ministers proposed by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, which included the country's former junior oil minister and a senior Goldman Sachs executive.

Jonathan sacked all government ministers two weeks ago to ease political uncertainty as ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua remained too sick to govern.

"The acting president will on Tuesday, April 6 swear in the newly appointed ministers at the state house," said spokesman Ima Niboro, adding that Jonathan would assign them portfolios immediately afterwards.

The nominees confirmed so far include 13 returnees from the outgoing cabinet and, while political analysts hope progress on key reforms may accelerate, few expect Nigeria's broad policy direction to change.

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Odein Ajumogobia is tipped as a possible oil minister, and Olusegun Aganga, a London-based executive at Goldman Sachs is seen as a contender for finance minister.

Nigeria's cabinet is made up of more than 40 ministers, ministers of state and ministers in the presidency. Jonathan is expected to submit soon a second list of nominees for Senate approval to complete his new team.

source: Reuters