President Buhari Set To Visit The White House

President Buhari Set To Visit The White House

US President Barack Obama is set to host Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the White House on Monday, July 20.

According to a statement on the White House official website, the visit will underscore the United States’ “longstanding friendship with Nigeria, our commitment to strengthening and expanding our partnership with Nigeria’s new government, and our support for the Nigerian people following their historic democratic elections and peaceful transfer of power”.

It also said President Obama looks forward to discussing with President Buhari the two countries’ many shared priorities including US.-Nigeria cooperation to advance a holistic, regional approach to combating Boko Haram, as well as Nigeria’s efforts to advance important economic and political reforms that will help unlock its full potential as a regional and global leader.

YAYYY! ACTRESS STEPHANIE LINUS AND HUBBY EXPECTING FIRST CHILD

Actress Stephanie Linus and her husband Idahosa Linus are expecting their first child together. Stephanie confirmed the pregnancy to Encomium magazine

"Yes my husband and I are expecting our first child and we are so, so happy, joyous, excited and you can add over the moon" she said

Stephanie and Idahosa got married in April 2012. Congrats to them. I am super excited for her *wink*

President Buhari Says He Inherited Empty Treasury And Huge Debts...

President Buhari Says He Inherited Empty Treasury And Huge Debts...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said he inherited a country with virtually an empty treasury from   former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Buhari, who met with State House correspondents on Monday to mark his first day in the Aso Rock office, said his administration was being weighed down by debts running into millions of dollars.

Although he did not say how much debt he met, he   promised to put in his best to salvage the country from the brink of collapse.

Lamenting that it was disgraceful for state and federal workers not to be paid their salaries as and when due, he told the correspondents that he would need their help to avoid a situation where Nigerians might march on him.

The President added that the culture of assessing government’s performance in the first 100 days in office was putting pressure on him considering   the mismanaged economy he inherited.

Buhari said, “This culture of 100 days (in office) is bringing so much pressure with treasury virtually empty; with debts in millions of dollars; with state workers and even federal workers not being paid their salaries.

“This is such a disgrace for Nigeria. I think Nigeria should be in a position to at least pay its workers.

“This bad management that we find ourselves in, we really need your help to protect us from people before they march on us.”

Buhari said it was not by accident that he appointed one of the best journalists in the country,Femi Adesina, as his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

He said he brought Adesina so that he could consistently defend him against his co-journalists.

The President said, “It is not by accident that I got one of your best colleagues (to be the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity); one of the 15 aides I had to 

get clearance from the Senate.

“He is one of the best that I can have as special advisers. I brought one of the best of you so that he can consistently defend me against you.

“Whether my job is a difficult or easy one; it is up to him but I am here to thank you in advance for what good and ill you are going to do to me,” he said.

The President expressed the hope that what happened under former President Goodluck Jonathan when a State House correspondent was expelled would not happen under his watch.

Buhari was accompanied to the parley by Adesina and his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

Shortly after resuming work, Buhari had met with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and some of his key aides.

He thereafter met behind closed doors with service chiefs.

It will be recalled that the President relocated to the Presidential Villa on Sunday evening barely three weeks after he was inaugurated.

He had been operating from his private residence and the Defence House, the official residence of the President-elect in Abuja.

Punch reportage.

ACTRESS STEPHANIE LINUS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Actress Stephanie Linus and her husband were part of guests that attended the Queen of England's Young Leaders Awards which held in Buckingham Palace yesterday June 22. More pics after the cut

YOUNG NIGERIAN GIRL GETS HONORED BY THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND

Nkechi Azinge who runs a Sickle Cell Foundation was part of the four Nigerians honored by the queen of England at the The Queen’s Young Leader Award which held at the Buckingham palace yesterday June 22nd. She also got support for her work from David Beckham and the executive producer of 12 Years a Slave, Steve McQueen. Nice one! See the photos after the cut...

 With David

With Steve...

Today's National News Headlines [Tue-23-Jun-2015]

Today's National News Headlines [Tue-23-Jun-2015]

Good Morning!

Do have a lovely day.....

PUNCH

Salaries: FGs condition worse than states, says Oshiomhole

Ogun deputy governor disowns Facebook account

Ex-militants beg Buhari to sustain amnesty

Between Buharis age and performance

APC must resolve NAssembly crisis

Era of impunity over Ahmed

Eighth NAssembly and shape of things to come

The coalition APC must maintain

Journalists get new site

Ambode declares second Lekki-Epe Expressway toll-free

Police still operating 1949 structure ' Williams

Court frees Atuche of N25.7bn theft charges

Senators' allowances nine times higher than basic pay

Kogi ex-MILAD, Afakirya dies at 65

Saraki, Lawan groups disagree on senate majority leader

11 states to seek N300.5bn refund from FG'as Buhari meets govs today

Buhari orders military checkpoints' removal, B'Haram kills 13

AIbom tribunal rules on relocation request June 24

Unpaid salaries: APC says Aregbesola wont sell helicopter

Wike not after Amaechi

Passenger dies inside a cab in Ogun

Oshoffas son seeks peace in Celestial Church

35 vandals jailed in six months

Murray-Bruces gift, mockery of Osun workers plight

Weve many court cases over party candidates Jega

Abia gov cuts own salary, travel allowances by 50%

AI report: Protesters storm UN office, petition Ban

ACourt stops bid to unseat Bayelsa senator

Pioneer film-maker, Francis Oladele, dies at 82

Terror attacks not affecting UNIJOS 'VC

Scholars seek solution to security challenges

NANS mourns murdered female student

UNILORIN, UNIUYO induct 122 medical graduates

VANGUARD

Nigeria's treasury empty, Buhari laments

Why subsidy should be removed ' NACCIMA, LCCI, others

NASS Leadership: Oyegun brokers truce between Saraki, Lawan

Senator La'ah blasts FG, Kaduna govt over Southern Kaduna killings

How twin explosions killed 35 in Maiduguri market

IGR, GDP ratio: Presidency considers bail-out for states

Onitsha homosexual case: Magistrate remands suspects

MEND threatens renewed hostilities over jumbo pay for lawmakers

Amaechi's probe not witch hunt ' Commissioner

FG receives '170 million grant to build power transmission network

Why Akpabio should not join APC

NFF to probe Keshi's link to Ivory Coast job

US Church massacre: The Apartheid connection

Persons living with disabilities task FG on legislation

Help! Flood is sacking us from our homes ' Ajegunle residents

THISDAY

FG Must Strengthen Environmental Health Laws

Court Orders Finance Minister to Allow CSJ Access to FOI Report

Buhari Meets State House Correspondents, Laments Nation's Empty Treasury

Fallout of 2015 Polls: Osinbajo Moves to Reconcile Christians

Vandalism: NSCDC to Build Command And Control Centre in Bayelsa

Buhari Orders Dismantling of Military Roadblocks

Umahi Sacks 13 Council Chairmen, 64 Coordinators

Groups Take Protest against AI to UN,

Nigeria Police Still Operating on 1949 Structure

Nasarawa NUT Suspends 19-day Strike

Buhari's First Day in Aso Rock, Meets Service Chiefs

The Political Rumble in the Legislative Jungle of the National Assembly

Why We Could not Impeach Chime by Ex-Speaker, Odoh

Wike to Pay Civil Servants Salary Arrears

Crisis Hits APC in Bayelsa

Buhari Has to Belong to Somebody

Marketers Still Sell Petrol Above Official Pump Prices

Nigeria Still Gives Power to Niger, Republic of Benin, Says Nnaji

NEITI: N4.5trn Spent on Fuel Subsidy Can Build New Refineries

Nigeria to Access $170m French Transmission Intervention Fund

Customs Denies Faulting Planned Relief Package for Youths

Mart Resources, Partners Lose 73,000 Barrels on Agip Pipeline

FG to Build 2,400MW Nuclear Plants in Kogi, A' Ibom States

Crisis Hits APC in Bayelsa as Factions Trade Words

Adoke's Uncle Paraded for Kidnapping in Kogi

Ex-FUTA VC Kidnapped in Akure

THE NATION

APC backs Lawan, Akume, Gbajabiamila for top posts

Buhari: treasury virtually empty

Alleged contempt: Kashamu misled court, say AGF, NDLEA

16m Nigerians displaced last year, says Fed Govt

President orders removal of military check points

Eight killed in Maiduguri explosions

PDP governors stategise ahead of meeting with Buhari

Former FUTA VC kidnapped in Akure

Senate principal officers to emerge this week

How democracy can survive, by Alegeh

Nwaiwu for burial August 8

Boosting employment opportunities for lawyers

Falana threatens legal action over Sexual Offences Bill

Kukah urges lawyers to fight injustice

NPDC workers go on strike

Consumer rights violation: MultiChoice pledges to cooperate with CPC

Farmers push for maize importation ban

Adelabu has not been immortalised

Will PDP go under in Niger

Nwaogu: Why I defected to APC

Shettima appoints SSG, advisers, others

DAILY POST

Buhari names US-based journalist as Osinbajo’s spokesman 

Rivers: TUC tells Wike to recall sacked 344 lecturers

Jigawa Governor to empower widows with goats

Scores feared killed as suicide bomber hits bus station in Borno

Buhari orders removal of Military check points, places Police in charge of internal security

Governor Ugwuanyi to partner FRSC for improved IGR

MEND threatens to resume violence over lawmakers’ allowances, says 

Jonathan’s government was corrupt

NOA wants reduction in cost of governance, wealth creation

PDP Governors’ Forum: Mimiko’s emergence as Chairman, mark of failure – APC

South-South community begs Buhari to give region SGF slot

FRAUDSTER BAGS THREE YEARS FOR N27MILLION SCAM

EFCC press statement below...

Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on Monday June 22, 2015, convicted and sentenced one Emmanuel Osita (a.k.a Chuks) to three years imprisonment on a two count charge of obtaining money by false pretence. The convict was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, sequel to a petition from a legal practitioner on behalf of one Mrs. Veronica Okonkwo, an eighty-one (81) year-old woman who was the victim.

The convicts while operating as a commercial tri-cyclist conspired with other persons who are still at large and falsely represented to the victim that they had the capacity to produce local and foreign currencies from pieces of papers by dipping them into mercury.

Osita and his accomplices hoodwinked the 81-year-old woman to let go the sum of N120, 000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) as registration fee with a mercury company prior to the procurement of the chemical. The octogenarian was also induced to sell her property in Festac Town Lagos for N27 million and the proceeds appropriated by the convict and his co-travellers.

Upon his arrest, the convict was arraigned on 1st July, 2014. He subsequently pleaded guilty after making restitution to the victim; including the property valued at N27 million as the alleged buyer forfeited same to the victim. Based on his plea and the restitution of the victim, Justice Lawal Akapo convicted and sentenced the accused to three years imprisonment without any option of fine.

Abia state gov cuts his salary & travel allowance by 50% due to unpaid salaries

Abia state gov cuts his salary & travel allowance by 50% due to unpaid salaries

Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has announced the slashing of his salary and travel allowance by 50%. The governor said he decided to cut his salary and travel allowance so that he can personally identify with the state workers who have not received their salaries for many months now.

He urged other appointees to follow in his foot step. The governor announced his salary slash while swearing in the states new state Head of Service, Dr Vivian Uma.

BOMB BLAST IN MAIDUGURI!

At least 13 people have been confirmed dead following twin explosions that rocked Baga road in Maiduguri, Borno state yesterday June 22nd. The bomb attacks were carried out by two female suicide bombers. One of the female suicide bombers blew herself up around the Baga market area while the second one detonated the bomb strapped on her inside the market. Most of the victims killed were women and children.

Stephanie Okereke-Linus and hubby to visit Buckingham Palace

Stephanie Okereke-Linus and hubby to visit Buckingham Palace

  Stephanie shared the photo and wrote "Hubby and I are heading to London to meet her Majesty The Queen - how awesome is that.#QueensYoungLeaders Shout out to all the amazing young people across the CommonWealth Nations that was selected to receive an award."

Official Portrait Of the Wife Of The President of Nigeria

Official Portrait Of the Wife Of The President of Nigeria 

According to PM News reportage, this is the official portrait of Mrs Aisha Buhari and henceforth, she will be addressed as “Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, Wife of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” and not “First Lady.”

Buhari Set To Reduce Ministeries From 42 To 19; Merge EFCC With ICPC And Scrape 50 Govt Agencies

Buhari Set To Reduce Ministeries From 42 To 19; Merge EFCC With ICPC And Scrape 50 Govt Agencies

President Muhammadu Buhari is said to have accepted the recommendation of the transition committee to slash the number of ministries from the present 42 to 19 with a view to saving cost and making them more effective and responsive to the needs of  Nigerians.

Many of the ministries have also been merged to ensure proper coordination of duties and ensure greater efficiency and service delivery.

This development comes after three weeks of consultations with international and Nigeria’s political leaders

According to Vanguard, a presidency source said that the number of  Federal Government departments and agencies had also been trimmed in line with the policy of the administration.

Effectively, it means that no fewer than 50 of the MDAs that were not backed by relevant laws might be scrapped and their staff moved into relevant departments to save cost.

The Presidency source hinted,”But the point being made is that relevant MDAs that will exist under the present administration must be those backed by laws.

“What that means is that the era of doing things the wrong way to please certain persons in positions of power is over.”

Shedding light on some of the ministries that had been merged, the official pointed out that the Ministry of Aviation and relevant agencies had been subsumed with Inland Waterways and associated agencies.

Similarly, the Ministry of Agriculture has been merged with that of Water Resources under what the  Presidency source described as the consolidation of larger ministries.

It was learnt that under the administration of Buhari, only 19 ministers and 17 ministers of state would operate as opposed to the previous arrangement where there were at least 42.

It was further gathered that some ministries would be run by senior ministers while others would be manned by junior ministers to save cost.

On the fight against corruption, the source disclosed to Vanguard that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  (EFCC) is to be merged with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, to tackle graft in a new way that would be prompt, fearless and decisive.

A top source also said Buhari was expected to make some key appointments this week so as to get the machinery of his administration running. 

Source : Vanguard

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Happy father's day to all the amazing dad's  out there...may God keep you safe!