I don't usually do this. The exchanges about Kemi speak so much about us as black people and I think we all should be reminded of this. Here's is a lady who has achieved what no black person, male or female, has EVER done: lead one of the oldest political parties in modern history and serve as a shadow Prime Minister of the UK. That position, among other things, gives her access to exclusively guarded information about one of the leading economies in the world. And to add, she has been in post longer than the last female leader. What do we do in response? We pick her faults and openly wish her to fail. What's wrong with us black people? 

I have repeatedly reminded people who try to denigrate her and will say the same here: encourage your daughters and sons to learn the lessons of Kemi's success. She may not become the PM of the UK. However you cannot take away that she's made a mark in history. She is undoubtedly an inspiration for black young and up and coming. She came back to the UK at 16. She didn't attend a UK ivy league university. She had no godfather that we know of to push her up (compare with Kamala in the US or many of her compatriots back home). Before she turned 50, she is leading the UK Conservative Party. Let's get serious here: that's a great deal to have achieved. Just look around you and see how many Nigerians here in the UK are still struggling within a much longer time frame.

Now, let's look at some of the accusations. They say she's said bad things about her country, Nigeria. Who hasn't? And when did that become a problem? Many of those who say these things have themselves said worse things even on this forum. No, others have said, she should have used her influence to try to change rather than talk about them. Again, I don't know when influence became exclusive of talking. Donald Trump has said far more terrible things about America and built his MAGA movement on that. He got away with it. But oh, I forgot Kemi is black! Besides her achievements, Kemi is leading the Conservative Party at a most difficult time when its rating has seriously diminished and it faces an onslaught from the far right that's increasingly emboldened. That would be hard for anyone to handle. Why then should anyone mock her on that? Those who pick on her deliberately disparage the enormously difficult challenges she is up against. And do you think it would do her any good as leader to present a divided commitment to the country she aims to lead? No, she cannot be helped if she were to play up to Nigeria and her dubious governance record. She has to detach herself and show she mean it that she's undivided in her commitment to the UK and it's core values. In some sense, Nigerians who deride her, including the Vice-President, are doing her the favour she so requires. 

Anyway, the truth in all these is that the issue those diminishing Kemi have is not about what she has said or not said. I think they all must be honest with themselves and admit that theirs is probably an extension of the low complex far too many black people carry about themselves. Fortunately, Kemi has proved the skeptics to be wrong: a black person can indeed do it. Our daughters and sons need more of such inspiration. Let's celebrate Kemi more, please.

Professor Victor Ayeni 

London, United Kingdom 

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has assured students that beneficiaries of the student loan scheme will not be restricted from travelling abroad after graduation.

Managing Director and Chief Executive of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, made this clarification during a sensitization programme at Edo University, Iyamho, while addressing students’ concerns about potential travel limitations.

Sawyerr emphasized that the law establishing NELFUND does not impose any travel restrictions on beneficiaries.

“The law that set up the Nigerian Education Loan Fund does not limit your ability to go and look for work wherever you want. You are not tied. It doesn’t say you cannot leave Nigeria because you have a loan with us. You can go wherever you want to go in the world. It is not possible for you to say that I can’t travel around the world,” Sawyerr stated.

However, he advised that students should take responsibility for repaying their loans, even if they secure jobs outside Nigeria.

“I think the right and proper thing to do, if you have a loan in Nigeria and you want to get a job somewhere else, is to pay the loan yourself back to your country,” he added.

Interest-free repayment structure

Sawyerr encouraged students to embrace the scheme, highlighting its unique benefits compared to other loan types.

“I want you to embrace it and I want you to act upon it because, if you miss this opportunity, it’s one that will affect generations… You know why? Because NELFUND is different from all other types of loans. It is the only loan you can take to acquire something that can never be taken away from you,” he explained.

• According to him, the repayment structure is interest-free, even if repayments extend over a decade.
• Sawyerr also provided updates on the disbursement process, revealing that NELFUND is prepared to distribute N135 billion once all applications are processed.

“We have received about 520,000 registrations and about 419,000 applications. We have processed and paid 261,000 students. Both upkeep and institutional fees. Our total exposure today, if we were to pay everybody that has applied, is somewhere in the region of N135 billion. But we have not processed all those people. We have got the money and we are ready in case all of them get processed. We can disburse N135 billion,” he disclosed.

University officials commend initiative

Acting Vice Chancellor of Edo University, Professor Dawood Egbefo, applauded the initiative, noting that 51 students from the institution had already benefited from N61.4 million in funding during the 2023/2024 academic session.

During an earlier sensitization visit to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, NELFUND expressed concern over low application numbers, revealing that only 102 students had applied, amounting to less than N20 million in disbursements.

Lami Suwaid, Director of Loan Allocation and Distribution at NELFUND, encouraged the university to take advantage of the new registration cycle to boost participation.

[Nairametrics]

Naija News understands that with the approval secured, the bills are now set for a third reading on the next legislative day before final passage.

According to Daily Trust, most of the contentious provisions that had previously sparked debate were resolved by the committee overseeing the reports, ensuring a smooth adoption process.

One of the key clauses considered and adopted was the Value Added Tax (VAT) distribution formula, which now follows a structure of 50% based on equality, 20% on population, and 30% on consumption—an approach initially suggested by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The House also dismissed the proposal for a gradual increase in VAT rates, opting instead to maintain the existing 7.5% rate.

Additionally, lawmakers voted to remove the term “ecclesiastical” from one of the clauses, replacing it with “religious” to avoid controversy.

Another critical decision was the approval of continuous funding for agencies such as TETFUND, NASENI, and NITDA through development levies.

The contentious clause on inheritance tax was also adjusted, clarifying that inheritance acquired before dissolution cannot be taxed.

The tax reform bills adopted by the House include:

1. A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Assessment, Collection, and Accounting of Revenue Accruing to the Federation, Federal, State, and Local Governments; Prescribing the Powers and Functions of Tax Authorities, and for Related Matters (HB.1756).

2. A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No.13, 2007, and Enact the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill to Establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, Charged with Powers of Assessment, Collection, and Accounting for Revenue Accruable to the Government of the Federation, and for Related Matters (HB.1757).

3. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombud for the Harmonisation, Coordination, and Settlement of Disputes Arising from Revenue Administration in Nigeria, and for Related Matters (HB.1758).

4. A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks Relating to Taxation, Enacting the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and for Related Matters (HB.1759).

[NaijaNews]

Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, has insisted that the zonal congress conducted by some members of the party in the South South cannot stand.

Members loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, led by Chief Dan Orbih, had conducted the congress in Cross River State, with Wike saying that would be the only Congress of the zone.

But speaking at the inauguration of the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee at the party headquarters at Wadata Plaza, on Thursday, Damagum said the tenure of the outgone committee hadexpired and a Caretaker Committee was necessary before congress could be conducted.

He also asked Nigerians not to take the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seriously, claiming that the PDP remains the party to beat.

Damagum said, “This is a very important occasion and I think I want to use this opportunity to tell us that there was no election as far as this party is concerned, in the South-South. I have to make this clear, because the tenure of the Zonal Committee has expired and we still have a few weeks or a month or so to do the Zonal Congresses. So we find it necessary to come up with this caretaker committee.

“I believe from your choices, some of you I have known and related with, I have no doubt that you will be diligent in your responsibility and usher in the new, soon-to-be-elected Executive Committee of the Zone.

“So, I enjoin you to be devoid of any partisanship or taking sides, to be diligent in the execution of your duties and come up with an all-inclusive Executive Committee in the Zone.”

Damagum said the PDP is still the party to beat.

“A party that has been tested for 27 years, one of the oldest parties. All these shenanigans you see around, the APC, the others, have not been more than 10 years old and if you’ve grown up to be up to 27 years and still standing, still counting, then there is no guarantee more than that.

“The PDP is the guarantee for Nigerians to change the course of what is happening today in our country. I also want to use this opportunity to caution our leaders, don’t fear them.

“Nobody is going to change your destiny for you other than yourself. I’ve noticed maybe because of fears, you find sometimes leaders encouraging this present administration at the center. I find it really very disgusting. Let’s tell ourselves the truth.

“So please let’s be up and doing. Don’t fear anyone. Nigerians belong to all of us. So there’s nobody who is a better Nigerian than you are. It’s all an opportunity, but if you put your act together, the path is very bright, we will reach the destination.”

[DailyTrust]

The Rivers State House of Assembly has set plans in motion to investigate the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, over alleged falsification of age.

The development comes amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.

DAILY POST reports that the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Similayi Fubara have been engaged in a political rivalry over control of the oil-rich state.

However, a new twist was added to the crisis on Thursday as the alleged age falsification by the Chief Judge became the subject of plenary at the Assembly.

This followed the presentation of some documents to the Speaker by the Leader of the House, Hon. Major Jack.

Afterward, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Dumle Maol, raised an allegation against the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, saying:

“These documents before me simply say that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, falsified his age in service. Mr. Speaker, that is a very serious allegation, and I do hope that this House takes legislative notice.”

The House debated the issue and resolved to write a letter to the Director of the DSS to conduct an investigation and report its findings to the House.

“The documents are only suggesting a case of age falsification by the Honourable Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi. What it means is that there has to be an investigation to that effect,” the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said.

It was later put to a vote, and the House eventually agreed to write to the DSS to investigate the age falsification allegation against the Chief Judge.

[DailyPost]

Actor Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as “Aki,” has opened up about the struggles with stunted growth and how it affected his mental health. 

He revealed that at the age of nine, doctors diagnosed him with “stunted growth or growth retardant,” which led to intense mockery from peers.

Ikedieze, in an interview with Chude Jideonwo, shared that his mother’s words of encouragement helped him focus on education as a means to overcome his challenges.

However, the constant taunting and name-calling took a toll on his mental health, and he even had suicidal thoughts.

Despite facing adversity, he chose to focus on his education and eventually built a successful career in Nollywood.

He said: “I remember my mom taking me to the hospital when I was around nine years old. I think I was sick. The doctor told her, ‘Madam, stop worrying yourself. He has no problem. Just make sure he reads his books, goes to school, and is there for him.

“That hit me hard. I was born and brought up in the village, so hearing that kind of English from a doctor — it stuck with me. I remember the doctor saying, ‘Madam, what he has is stunted growth.’ Then he wrote something on a report, and I saw another word: growth retardation.

”I didn’t even know how to pronounce it. That was when I started hearing those words over and over again. My mom always told me, ‘You are small; you cannot start carrying cement or doing furniture work. The best thing for you is to go and study.’

“So I knew that the only weapon I had to conquer the world was education. But it was painful. People taunted me. I cried several times. They called me names. It got so bad that, at times, I thought of ending it all.”

[TheNation]

The presidential aspirant of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, on Thursday, arrived in Bauchi State for a meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed.

The purpose of the visit remains unclear as both politicians are currently holding a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Bauchi.

Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, is expected to brief journalists alongside Obi after the meeting.

The 2023 presidential election saw former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, clinch victory after securing the highest number of votes across the country.

Labour Party’s Peter Obi, whose candidacy attracted an unprecedented wave of support, particularly among young voters, finished third with 6,101,533 votes.

Despite being a first-time presidential contender, Obi won in 11 states, including Lagos—Tinubu’s stronghold—and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Atiku, like Tinubu, secured victory in 12 states.

Following the election, opposition parties have intensified discussions about forming a coalition to challenge the APC in 2027.

Atiku has been seen in political meetings with Obi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other key figures across the country as strategizing for the next presidential contest gains momentum.

[Punch]

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai has disclosed that he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the full knowledge and consent of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Vanguard had reported that El-Rufai announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa service on Wednesday, he revealed that he consulted Buhari before making the move, emphasising that he regularly sought the former president’s counsel on political matters.

He said, “There are certain people that before I do any major thing or make any decision, I consult, and anything they ask me not to do, I don’t do, and former President Muhammadu Buhari is among them.

“I consulted Buhari before leaving the APC. It was on a Friday when I went and met him. I hardly make any major decision without consulting him. I told him to pray for me and give me his blessings, which he did.”

El-Rufai recalled instances from his tenure as governor when he sought Buhari’s approval on key appointments, including submitting his commissioner nominees for review.

“Even when I was governor of Kaduna, before I appointed my commissioners, I took the list to Buhari for cross-checking to see if, from among them, someone ever insulted him.

“He laughed, thanked me and told me you can go ahead and appoint commissioners.”

[Vanguard]

Senators, on Thursday, overwhelmingly passed a vote of confidence on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, despite the sexual harassment allegations levelled against him by Kogi Central Senator Natash Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Members of the upper chamber also urged Nigerians not to allow the allegations to serve as a distraction from the legislative responsibilities of the National Assembly.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Mr Akpabio of sexual harassment and reported the matter, along with her suspension from the Senate, to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The suspension of the Kogi senator has been controversial, with some critics alleging it was politically motivated.

Mr Bamidele, while presenting the motion during the plenary, stated that the allegations should be left for the courts to decide.

He cited Senate Rule 40, which prevents the legislative chamber from discussing issues already before a court of law.

The motion was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Olalere Oyewumi, representing Osun West.

Despite the ongoing controversy, when the matter was put to a vote, most of the senators expressed their confidence in Mr Akpabio’s leadership.

Details later…

[premiumtimesng]

United States President Donald Trump has threatened a 200 percent tariff on alcohol from European Union (EU) countries.

The threat is in retaliation to the region’s “nasty 50% tariff on whisky” from the US.

The alcohol tariffs are the latest shots in an escalating trade war between the US and its top trading partners, a move initiated by Trump on Wednesday.

The US president had imposed a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminium coming into the country.

The EU responded by saying it would raise its levies on up to $28bn worth of US goods, including boats, bourbon and motorbikes, from April 1.

Trump later said he would respond to the countermeasures with additional levies, saying the White House would be “doing reciprocal tariffs so whatever they charge us with, we’re charging them. Nobody can complain about that”.

He said if the 50 percent tariff is not removed “immediately”, the US tariff will target all wines, Champagnes and alcoholic products coming out of EU represented countries.

“This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the US,” Trump said.

Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, said the response was intended to be “strong but proportionate”, and added that the EU stood “ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue”.

“Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business and worse for consumers,” she said.

“Nobody needs that – on both sides, neither in the European Union nor in the United States.”

The commission president cautioned that the economic disruption threatened jobs and would drive prices up.

[TheCable]