Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria's acting president, has selected 18 ministers to be the first members of his cabinet.

The list has been sent to senate on Tuesday for approval as political uncertainty continues in the country following Jonathan sacking all members of the federal cabinet last week.

"The list of the ministerial nominees was forwarded to the senate today," a parliamentary source said on condition of anonymity, without elucidating further.

A different government member said: "The list he sent to the senate has 18 names, all of them ministers from the old cabinet dissolved last week."

A senate source confirmed that the house has received the list.

The new nominees are expected to appear before the senate which will screen and confirm them ahead of their inauguration.

Political instability abounds in Nigeria, where Jonathan took temporary power in early February from Umaru Yar'Adua, the president.

Yar'Adua is ill with a heart condition and was in Saudi Arabia receiving treatment for months, leading to calls within Nigeria that he has left an unconstitutional power vacuum.