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Tag: BUHARI

Buhari seeks Senate’s approval to appoint 15 Special Advisers

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to grant him the approval to appoint Special Advisers.

Buhari, in a June 2 memo titled: “Appointment of Special Advisers”, sought approval for the appointment of 15 Special Advisers.

The memo was read yesterday by Senate President David Mark.

The president said the request is sequel to the provision of Section 151(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The memo reads: “Pursuant to the provision of Section 151(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which confers on me to appoint Special Advisers to assist me in the performance of my functions, I write to request for your kind consideration and approval of the Distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic to appoint 15 Special Advisers as prescribed in Section 151(2-3)of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Buhari sought prompt consideration and approval of the request.

The names of the advisers were not stated. The president has already named a former Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr Femi Adesina, as his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

When his request is approved, he is expected to appoint 14 more Special Advisers.

June 3, 2015
Avoid hasty removal of subsidy, Buhari urged

President Muhammad Buhari should not ground the economy by immediately removing oil subsidy, oil workers have warned.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) yesterday warned that any attempt by the Federal Government, to abruptly remove subsidy on petroleum products will bring more hardship on Nigerians.

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Emmanuel Ojugbana, the body warned that the advice in some quarters that the government should stop paying subsidies to oil marketers was wrong and ill-timed.

It said removing subsidy, while the country depends on importation of refined products will make prices of fuel out of the reach of masses and further cause inflation.

It said if local refining is not increased to meet local demand for petroleum products, especially petrol, removing subsidy would worsen the conditions of Nigerians.

According to the union, the government should ensure that the deregulation policy is based on local production, and not importation.

“Importation of refined petroleum products is also putting the naira under undue pressure and creating social problems for the economy. This is unacceptable to PENGASSAN.

“Abrupt removal of fuel subsidy will create chaos that may ground the economy. PENGASSAN calls for well-coordinated measures with timeline to achieve self-sufficiency in local refining as a means of proffering acceptable steps to end fuel subsidy.

“This should be combined with such other measures for effective optimisation of gas especially for domestic, industrial, electricity and automotive energy. Such will create other affordable and friendly sources for energy needs.”

It said.

The body stated that importation is a major drain on the nation’ s revenue while at the same time providing jobs for the refining nations.

Ojugbana explained that both the government and industry operators had always yearned to promote competition and efficiency but failed to assure on how to enhance local refining capacity to contain local demand.

“Government is thus persistently confronted with import parity pricing and the burden of subsidizing the imported fuel instead of locally refined products. As an important stakeholder in the sector, we oppose the petroleum products importation regime, which is rent seeking and indeed a drain devise that is inimical to our economic and social empowerment. “ the statement added.

June 3, 2015
PENGASSAN asks Buhari to increase local refining capacity

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on President Muhamadu Buhari to increase local refining capacity before embarking on any deregulation process

This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by PENGASSAN National Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojugbana.

The union called on the president to ensure that the focus of deregulation policy was based on local production rather than importation.

It said that if local refining was not increased to meet local demand for petroleum products, especially the premium motor spirit (petrol), removing subsidy on petroleum products would bring more hardship on Nigeria.

It stated that removing subsidy while the country depended on importation of refined products would make prices of refined products to be out of the reach of the masses and would cause inflation.

It said that importation of refined petroleum products was a major drain on the nation’s revenue, adding that it created jobs for the refining nations in spite of the high unemployment rate confronting Nigeria.

“Importation of refined petroleum products is also putting the Naira under undue pressure and creating social problems for the economy.

“This is unacceptable to PENGASSAN.

“Abrupt removal of fuel subsidy will create chaos that may ground the economy.

“PENGASSAN calls for well-coordinated measures with timeline to achieve self-sufficiency in local refining as a means of proffering acceptable steps to end fuel subsidy.

“This should be combined with such other measures for effective optimisation of gas, especially for domestic, industrial, electricity and automotive energy. Such will create other affordable and friendly sources for energy needs,” it stated.

It called on the government to declare a state of emergency in the downstream oil and gas sector.

It also urged the government to convene an all-stakeholders forum to come up with concrete and sustainable steps with reliable timeline for achieving demand-supply equilibrium through local refining.

It stated that the strategy must be to guarantee a total stoppage of both petroleum products importation and fuel subsidy.

It said Nigerians expect that relying on the resources that the nation was endowed with, the country should be able to provide refined products at reasonable and affordable prices to the populace,

It stated that this could have been possible if local refining capacities were enhanced.

It explained that both the government and industry operators had always yearned to promote competition and efficiency but failed to assure on how to enhance local refining capacity to contain local demand.

“Government is thus persistently confronted with import parity pricing and the burden of subsidising the imported fuel instead of locally refined products.

“As an important stakeholder in the sector, we oppose the petroleum products importation regime, which is rent seeking and indeed a drain device that is inimical to our economic and social empowerment.

“It is affecting our self-dependence and means of job creation. Thus, we maintain our unwavering belief in local refining,” it stated.

It stated that PENGASSAN strongly subscribed to the retention of the state-owned refineries in the best interest of the Nigerian nation and for economic security.

It stated that this was in keeping with OPEC’s principle that member countries should hold good grip of the commanding height of their economy.

“PENGASSAN maintains strong objection to the privatisation of state-owned refineries as the OPEC principle is being cautiously guided by other OPEC member countries,” it stated.

June 2, 2015
Boko Haram: Service chiefs brief Buhari

Service chiefs briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the security situation in the country on Tuesday.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin, made this known to newsmen in Abuja.

Jubrin told State House Correspondents after the closed door meeting that the meeting, the first with the president since his inauguration on May 29, was successful.

“Since he was inaugurated as the President and Commander in Chief, this is the first time that we are formally meeting him to give a general security briefing of the country and that went very well.’’

He said the military would like to maintain the level of successes recorded against Boko Haram terrorists and sustain it until they are defeated.

He said the military would go back and work on the command centre following the President’s directive that it had to relocate to Maiduguri.

He added that the military would report back to the President. “This won’t take too long and we must come back as quickly as possible’,’ he said.

On the resurgence of the terrorists, Jubrin urged Nigerians to continue to support the security operatives in the battle against Boko Haram.

“The step is for all Nigerians to continue to support us and provide us with the needed intelligence as to the human beings, their movements.

“Any suspicious movement can be reported to the police and of cause the police will make that available to us.

“As we continue to put pressure on them in the Sambisa area, they will try to run away from there and then create bombs through Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs),’’ he said.

June 2, 2015
Fayose to Buhari: Let me pick Ekiti ministerial nominee

As President Muhammadu Buhari shops for ministers to serve in the yet-to-be constituted Federal Executive Council (FEC), Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Tuesday offered to nominate the minister to represent Ekiti State.

The governor in a letter to President Buhari dated May 31 promised to send what he called “a worthy and competent Ekiti professional for appointment” as minister in the All Progressive Congress (APC) government.

Fayose noted that his request to nominate a ministerial candidate to represent Ekiti interests in the federal cabinet “was based on the declaration made by the President that would put overall interest of the country above partisan interests and biases”.

“Should the request be favourably disposed to, I shall be happy to nominate a worthy and competent professional who can always oblige your excellency and your cabinet the benefit of a second opinion in the serious business of governance”.

The Governor also hinted that his letter was on the strength of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Section 147 Sub-Section (2) and (3).

The Sub-section state as follows: “Any appointment to the office of the Minister of the government of the Federation shall if the nomination of any such person to such office is confirmed by the Senate , be made by the President.

“Any appointment under sub- section (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provision of section 15 (3) of this constitution provided that in giving effect to the provision aforesaid, the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state who shall be indegene of such state.

Fayose argued that Ekiti is a PDP-controlled state where the governor, the National Assembly and the State Assembly members are all PDP members.

He contended that “in the spirit of emplasing and all inclusive government with capacity for national integration,” the President should accord him the honour and privilege to name the minister that will come from Ekiti State.

In substantiating his argument, Fayose said the PDP administration led by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo appointed opposition figures into the then federal cabinet.

He cited the example of the late Chief Bola Ige who was initially appointed Minister of Power and Steel before he was later appointed Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice by Obasanjo.

Fayose also cited the example of former AD National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Abdulkadir who was appointed by Obasanjo as Special Adviser.

But the APC in a reaction by its Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun has described Fayose’s request as “a gratuitous insult and madness at its worst fits”.

The party said: “Even if he were to be APC governor, haven’t President Muhammadu Buhari made it plain that he won’t allow the governors to pick ministers for him?

“Why didn’t Fayose fight for ‎Governor Kayode Fayemi to allow him suggest Ekiti ministerial nominees for President Goodluck Jonathan when the former President was appointing his ministers?

“We hope Fayose will, for once, strike a sane chord in his public conduct and stop hallucinating about the right to nominate candidates for Ekiti ministerial slot, “APC stated.

June 2, 2015
Senate applauds Buhari, Jonathan over peaceful handover

The Senate on Tuesday congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and former President Goodluck Jonathan over Friday’s successful inauguration of the new administration.

This followed a motion by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and 107 other Senators entitled: “Congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and others.”

Ndoma-Egba in his lead debate noted the successful handover of government and the inauguration of Buhari as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his deputy, Prof. Osinbajo, on May 29.

He also noted the successful inauguration of some National Assembly members as governors in their respective states.

He listed the National Assembly members inaugurated as governors to include Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Senator Benedict Ayade (Cross River), Senator Bindo Jibrilla (Adamawa) Senator Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi ) and Hon. Ifeany Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

Ndoma-Egba said the Senate identified with the current government of President Buhari and the state governments under the leadership of “ our colleagues in the National Assembly in their attempts to actualize the legitimate yearnings of our people for a greater country in all spheres of social-political and economic life.”

Senate President, David Mark, who summed contributions by Senators, said the important message is that the country had a smooth and peaceful transition from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to an opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mark noted that for the first time in the political history of the country, the presidential election results were not being contested at any tribunal.

He added, “It is not just enough to congratulate Buhari, we have to congratulate the former President Jonathan who willingly conceded defeat and followed it up with a phone call.

“We should congratulate Buhari, former President and all Nigerians.”

June 2, 2015
Buhari, service chiefs meet at Defence House

President Muhammadu Buhari and service chiefs met behind closed-door at the Defence House, Abuja, Tuesday.

The meeting, which was arranged to enable the service chiefs brief President Buhari on counter insurgency strategies so far employed to rout the Boko Haram militants, preceded the President’s planned trip to Niger Republic and Chad on Wednesday.

The meeting is still in progress as at time of filing this report.

June 2, 2015
Buhari seeks Senate approval for 15 Special Advisers

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to grant him the approval to appoint Special Advisers.

Buhari in memo dated June 2, 2015 entitled: “Appointment of Special Advisers” was read by the Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday.

The President said the request for Senate’s approval to appoint Special Advisers is sequel to the provision of Section 151(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The memo reads, “Pursuant to the provision of Section 151(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which confers on me to appoint Special Advisers to assist me in the performance of my functions, I write to request for your kind consideration and approval of the Distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic to appoint 15 Special Advisers as prescribed in Section 151(2-3)of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Buhari further asked for prompt consideration and approval of the request.

June 2, 2015
AfDB presidency: Buhari’s phone calls to global leaders shaped my election, says Adesina

THE newly elected President of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, yesterday spoke of President Muhammadu Buhari’s role in his election.

Adesina said Buhari made vital phone calls to global leaders in respect of the position that resulted in his emergence as the AfDB President, noting that the outcome of the race would have been different were it not for him.

The ex-minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under former President Goodluck Jonathan administration spoke at the Oke-Mosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he visited Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

He added that other notable Nigerians, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Jonathan, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and others stood behind him.

Adesina noted that the dream and vision of African countries are one and pledged to use his office as president of the continental bank “to develop Africa, fight poverty, develop infrastructure and revive rural economies”.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to congratulate President Buhari on his election and his inauguration. I want to thank him tremendously for the support that he gave me on the run for the presidency of the African Development Bank.

“Without that support and without him personally engaged in making calls to critical global leaders in the last days of the election, I don’t think we might have seen the result we saw today.

“I want to really thank the President tremendously for his support and for his commitment and to helping make sure we got that victory.

“Obviously, I couldn’t have also been here, except the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, nominated me. I feel tremendously humbled with that nomination and supported me tremendously by putting a lot of weight behind me.

“I want to thank particularly, former Vice President Namadi Sambo who also went with me to different parts of Africa in mobilising support. Also former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who also was in the frontline of actually pushing and helping us.

“So tremendous amount of goodwill that we had. The National Assembly was great, the press was generous, and all Nigerians, it is not about me, it is about our country and we are a great country.

He added: “I want to assure you that I as the president of the bank, by the grace of God, poverty would not be the comparative advantage of Africa and we would work very hard to develop programmes that would end poverty on this continent, that would lead people out of it and create opportunities for shared prosperity all across our continent.

“Obviously, I think critical issues of infrastructure would be important, energy for all would be important, electricity would be important, very critical to build private sector and to create wealth all across our continent.

“We want to ensure that we are able to create jobs for hundreds of millions of our people, instead of people going across this Sahara Desert or Mediterranean to go to Europe, we want to create job on this continent of Africa and we can do that.

“Also, I believe we must revive our rural economies and lift hundreds of our rural people that depend on agriculture out of poverty. So, getting agriculture to work as a business is going to be a big one that we are going to do for inclusive growth and also into regional integration.”

Dr. Adesina said his dream and vision for Africa is one, adding: “An Africa that is growing well, has a lot of shared prosperity and Africa where you have a lot of peace, stability and security, and one which is regionally integrated within ourselves, but also globally competitive in what we do.”

June 2, 2015
Buhari condoles with Anambra, Joe Biden

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed condolences to Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and the people of Anambra State, over the petrol tanker accident, which claimed the lives of 70 people at a busy bus station in Onitsha.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity), Mallam Garba Shehu, the President described the incident as “a sad and unfortunate loss”.

He said: “My deepest sympathies are with you at this most trying time,”

President Buhari also extended condolences to the Vice President of United States, Joe Biden, who yesterday lost his son, Beau.

“As someone who has lost a child, I understand how painful and almost inconsolable it can be. The government and people stand with you at this trying moment for your family,” President Buhari said.

He added that only God can offer comfort to both the governor and people of Anambra, and to Vice President Biden.

“I pray that God comforts you,” he said.

Also yesterday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed “deep shock and sadness at the horrific fuel-laden tanker tragedy at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra State that led to the loss of scores of lives and destruction to properties on Sunday.”

Atiku prayed for the repose of the souls of the scores of deceased persons, while soliciting God’s protection for Nigerians nationwide.

“May God accept the souls of the departed into blissful eternity and grant the relatives and families of the deceased bearable fortitude to accept the loss.

“I commiserate with the Government and good people of Anambra State in whose abode this huge loss had taken place,” Atiku said.

He advised motorists and road safety agencies on safe and considerate driving.

He also implored Nigerians to stick together in moments of tragedy to demonstrate their national resilience to overcome tough times, while seeking more government investment in health and safety emergency measures to help forestall or reduce casualty figures in future occurrences.

June 2, 2015