Buhari, Osinbajo on Half Salaries

• VP launches Aisha Buhari’s book
Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said that himself and President Mohammadu Buhari are on half salaries.

Osinabjo disclosed this at the launching of a book, “The Essential of Beauty Therapy,” written by the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, held at the Old Banquet Hall of the presidential villa, Abuja on Thursday.

Osinbajo said Buhari was not given to frivolity and extravagancy, saying he was very strict on financial matters.

The public presentation of the book came on the day when the nation was observing the two years anniversary of the abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.

Authorities said proceeds made from the sale of the books would be donated for the wellbeing of the parents and guardians of the school children who were yet to be rescued.

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, Osinbajo who also represented the president, told the audience not to expect so much from him, emphasising that he and his principal were on half salary.
He however hailed the intellectual disposition of the wife of president which he said made the book possible.

He said that the book would also serve as an instructional manual and technical material to beauticians and people in the beauty world.

Osinbajo highlighted the importance of girl-child education in the country.
He said: “The President and I are on half salaries and President is very strict on money matters. As representative of the President, he knows his wife is beautiful but he does not like others saying his wife is beautiful.

“This is an important occasion, I have the privilege of looking at the book which is about 300 pages, it is an instructional manual not just an ordinary book.

“She has decided to dedicate the proceeds of the launching of the book to victims of the insurgency in the North-east and particularly the families of the Chibkok girls and the boys abducted and slaughtered at Government Secondary School, Gombe in February 2014.

“Girl-child eduction is still an issue, girls not having the opportunity to go to school. If the wife of the president didn’t have the opportunity to go to school, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to reach others.
“It emphasises the importance of education. Her desire to dedicate the proceeds of the presentation to the victims of insurgency and particularly the families of the Chibok girls is commendable.”

Osinbajo said that government would do its best to secure the release of the girls and also stated that the timing of the book presentation was apt, saying: “I am pleased to be associated win it.”

In her remarks, the author, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, said her decision to present the book was to contribute to the needs of the victims of insurgency, urging the members of the audience to buy the book to support the girl-child education.

The chairman of the occasion and National Leader of the All Progressive Party (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, represented by his wife, Senator Oluremi, urged Nigerians to take advantage of the vast potential in the beauty industry.

Tinubu also called for the setting up of vocational schools in partnership with beauty products, adding that “Nigeria needs more women to expand the frontier of beauty therapy.”

He called for generous contributions to the book presentation “because it’s not contributing to the purse of the wife of the president but the rebuilding process in the north-east.”

“The Essentials of Beauty Therapy” according to an introduction made at the book launch stated that the book was “designed as a work books for student, practitioners, tutors and provides information to their specific needs in simple-to-understand language.”

Dignitaries who made the occasion included the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Pastor Tunde Bakare; former Cross State governor, Donald Duke; Emir of Birnin Gwari, Malam Zubairu Jibril Mai Gwari II, former Super Eagle skipper, Yobo Joseph, Daisy Danjuma and Mrs. Opral Benson.