Photos: Pres. Buhari At The Historical Blair House

Buhari at his official residence in Washington DC

Buhari becomes first Nigerian president to stay at US president's official guest house 'The Blair House'

President Muhammadu Buhari, who left for the US this morning, will be staying at the Blair House in Washington D.C, According to the presidency, he will be the first Nigerian president ever to stay in the US President's official guest house.

An invitation by a sitting US President to stay in this historic guest house is regarded in America as an honor of highest significance. When visiting leaders reside here, the flags of their nations fly proudly over Blair House, a courtesy that serves as both a gracious welcome and a symbol of the home’s crucial role in diplomatic relations. SSA to Buhari on media & publicity, Shehu Garba shared the photo of him and another Nigerian standing in front of the historic building. More photos..

Pres. Buhari Appoints New Service Chiefs

ABUJA – President Mohammadu Buhari has replaced the country’s Service Chiefs.


The new ones included;

Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin – Chief of Defence Staff;
Major-General T.Y. Buratai – Chief of Army Staff
Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff
Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff
Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan – Chief of Defence Intelligence
Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) – National Security Adviser.

Odinkalu Says Buhari Does Not Have The Right To Cut His salary

The National Human Rights Commission says the Nigerian President, Vice President and Governors have no powers, under the law, to cut their salaries.

A professor of law and the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Professor Chidi Odinkalu, told Channels Television on Sunday that the right to cut salaries rests with the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

“This idea of Governors, President or Vice President slashing their salaries, I think it is alluring and a lot of people will welcome it.

“But I will caution that there is going to be a process here, the salaries of the President, Vice President and Governors are not set by them and they actually don’t have the powers under the law to cut their own salaries.

“That is done by the Revenue mobilisation, allocation and fiscal commission,” he said.

Professor Odinkalu further stressed that there was no law that empowered the President to cut his salary.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had last week said they would only take 50 per cent of their salaries, as part of their commitment to cutting cost of governance.

The decision was welcomed by most Nigerian, as they believed it was a good way for the President to begin the fulfilment of his promise to cut cost.

But Mr Odinkalu suggested that for the President, Vice President and Governors to cut their salaries, there should be a review of the constitution to empower them to take such decisions.

“What will happen is that they can collect their salaries and decide to donate 50 per cent of that back to the state. We need a system to get that money and be able to use it for public purpose.

“Let us not because of populism do something that is not authorised by law.

“A democratic system is a system of law and we do not elect the President and Governors to do what is unlawful,” he warned.

President Muhammadu Buhari Fires Chief of Army, Navy & Airforce

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the service chiefs of the army, navy and air force, a presidency spokesman said. The spokesman added that their replacements would be announced later on Monday. The move was widely anticipated as former general Buhari has made cracking down on Islamist militant group Boko Haram his number one priority. The Chiefs are Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin and Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh

FG slashes import licenses to oil marketers from 43 to 29

The Federal Government has issued licenses to import refine petroleum products to 29 marketers in a bid to end the fuel scarcity witnessed across the country.

The third quarter approval for import allocations to 29 marketers signaled a significant reduction in the number of marketers previous issued with such allocations.

Previously, 43 marketers were given import allocation but the significant reduction may be seen as a way of blocking leakages in oil and gas sector as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The 29 marketers include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which in the last couple of months struggled to sustain supply.

It was gathered that the approval was given by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to allow NNPC and other oil marketers to import fuel into the country this quarter.

The third quarter import allocation is thought to be around 1.6 million metric tonnes of petrol, a source in PPPRA disclosed. NNPC, NIPCO Plc, Oando Plc, Conoil, Mobil Oil, Masters Energy, Techno Oil and Folawiyo Oil and Gas, Total Nigeria Plc and Mobil Oil Plc are some of the companies granted imported allocations.

Although the PPPRA was yet to issue an official statement on the third quarter import allocation, another source in PPPRA said the agency now expects major oil marketers to resume importation of petrol after extracting a promise from the government that outstanding claims on subsidies will be paid.

An industry source who pleaded anonymity confirmed the allocation to the Tribune Online in a telephone conversation. "We got our allocation on Friday and I'm sure there are 29 of us as against the previous 43 marketers issued licenses to import," he said.

Source:Tribune

Nigerian Embassy In Saudi Arabia Snubs President Buhari’s Family

For inexplicable reasons, the Nigerian embassy in Saudi Arabia this week side-stepped protocol by giving preference to former Vice President Namadi Sambo and his entourage of 15 family members over that of President Muhammadu Buhari when both arrived for the lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia.

The Umrah is performed by Muslims from all over the world who converge on the holy city of Mecca to observe the ritual, which can be undertaken at any time of the year but mostly observed during Ramadan.

The pilgrims perform a series of worship activities symbolising the lives of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his second wife, Hajara.

LEADERSHIP gathered that both families arrived in Saudi Arabia this week for Umrah and while Aisha Buhari and her five children were allotted two-bedroom accommodation, the former vice president was allotted an eight-room apartment.

LEADERSHIP also learnt that while not a single protocol officer and vehicles were posted by the embassy to attend to the president’s family, a protocol officer and vehicles from the embassy were attached to the former vice president and his family.

An embassy source revealed that Buhari’s wife had travelled to Saudi Arabia via Emirate Airline instead of the presidential jet, as was the practice in the previous administrations, and had decided to seek alternative accommodation by herself at her own expense, to accommodate her and her children.
However, it was gathered that the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provided an official vehicle to convey the Nigerian president’s family around as it is done for the families of all visiting heads of state.
The source further revealed that the consular-general, Ahmed Umar, still sees himself as being more beholden to the former vice president than anyone else because Sambo it was that was instrumental to his elevation and posting to Saudi Arabia. He still sees himself basically as Sambo’s protege, a staff member of the embassy told LEADERSHIP.
The source added that even the two-bedroom apartment allotted to the president’s family was a result of the efforts of the ambassador, Alhaji Abubakar Bunu, and not the consular- general.
While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in power, Buhari and his family were denied any privileges by the Nigerian embassy in Saudi Arabia, even those due to a former head of state because he was in the opposition.
Sambo and his family had last year embarked on a widely publicised Umrah.


247frolic

Buzzzii news: List Of Political Appointments Made By Pres. Muhammadu Buhari So Far

President Muhammadu Buhari has only made nine political appointments so far, with over 35 days gone since his inauguration as The President of Nigeria. Of which eight are from the North, while one is from the South.

Although President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to officially announce his ministerial list, he has however made some key appointments.

Here are the names of the 9 political appointees below:

– Director-General of the State Services, Lawal Daura, Katsina State
– Acting Chairman, the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari, Jigawa State
– Director, the Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Mordecai Danteni Baba Ladan (North)
– Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Kano State

– Chief Security Officer, Abdulrahman Mani; (North)
– State Chief of Protocol, Mallam Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure; (North)
– Aide De Camp, Lt.-Col. Muhammed Lawal Abubakar, Kano State
– Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu; (North)
– Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, South-West