Nigeria's Senate on Wednesday confirmed 38 new ministers proposed by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, including the country's former junior oil minister and a senior Goldman Sachs (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) executive.

The Senate approval will allow Jonathan to quickly assign portfolios and form his new cabinet, a move his supporters hope will herald a more muscular period of government and ease political uncertainty in Africa's most populous nation.

"We use this opportunity to urge the Acting President that any minister who does not live up to the expectations of Nigerians should not be spared but be removed immediately," Senate President David Mark said after the confirmation.

Jonathan sacked the cabinet two weeks ago in a bid to assert his authority a month after assuming executive powers in the absence of ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, who was receiving medical treatment abroad and remains too sick to govern.

more