General News
NASS Leadership: Intrigues As APC Fails to Enact Will
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) suffered a crucial setback on Tuesday; as it failed to have its chosen candidates elected leaders of both arms of the National Assembly, according to Daily Independent.
The development, aside putting the party in power in very difficult position with the federal legislature, has dealt a blow on the authority of the APC, especially its strongman, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, believed to have orchestrated the party’s position.
Daily Independent reported that in what was a clear repeat of the 2011 scenario in the House of Representatives when the then opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) connived with rebellious members of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to deny the PDP the chance of installing its chosen candidate as Speaker.
This time, in what some see as payback time, PDP members in the Senate and House of Representatives connived with some members of the APC who were unhappy at the party’s choices to elect Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker respectively.
The APC leadership had picked Senator Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as the party’s candidate for the position at a mock election held last Saturday.
The intrigues surrounding the fight for the NASS leadership crystallized yesterday when the party members, especially those in the Senate, shunned the meeting called by President Muhammadu Buhari, early in the day, to find a solution to the challenges bedeviling the party.
Instead they appeared in the chamber, and with the support of PDP members, formed a quorum, and went ahead to elect Saraki as the Senate President un-opposed.
In a Senate of 109 members, 57 members made up mostly of PDP members converged in the Senate Chambers, got inaugurated by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, who acting on the letter of proclamation forwarded to him a week ago by President Muhamnadu Buhari, set the 8th Session of the National Assembly in motion.
With calls for nomination made, Saraki was the only one nominated for the seat at a time Senator Ahmed Lawan and his supporters were at the International Conference Centre, waiting for the arrival of President Buhari and the Saraki team.
He emerged un-opposed, following which affirmation vote was taken to ratify his election.
The PDP, however, played a fast one on the APC members when one of the PDP members and the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Emweremadu, was nominated as Deputy President candidate to slug it out with Ali Ndume of the APC and Saraki’s running mate.
With their numerical advantage, the PDP members outwitted the few APC senators in the chamber, voting en-mass for Ekwerenmadu.
According to Daily Independent, those who know say Ekwerenmadu’s emergence was not happenstance, because on Monday night, news broke that Saraki had in the bid to win the support of the PDP caucus, agreed to support the bid to return the Deputy Senate President, who served for eight years to his prime job.
The emergence of Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President is the first time a mixed leadership is presiding over the Senate.
With the “palace coup” in the Senate effectively executed, the battle field was shifted to the House of Representatives where the PDP members had struck an agreement with the Yakubu Dogara team offering him their support to emerge as Speaker against the candidature of Femi Gbajabiamila, the APC’s anointed candidate.
The animosity between the two camps was openly displayed even before the Clerk to the National Assembly was done with the assignment in the Senate.
As soon as the news filtered in that Saraki and Ekweremadu had clinched the seats in the senate, the supporters of Dogara both in the PDP and APC threw caution to the wind by engaging in wild jubilation, shouting “PDP” “PDP” “PDP”.
Ironically, Dogara in his last two elections into the parliament, was elected on the platform of PDP but about nine months ago, decamped to the APC to actualize his third term bid.
The lawmakers who supported Dogara did not hide their disdain for Gbajabiamila as they booed him when he entered the chamber at about 10.30 am.
However, the tide changed some minutes later when his supporters who were also at the ICC waiting to attend the meeting called by the President, came in, in droves.
Both camps began to engage each other in war of praise singing, causing much noise in the chamber.
At about 1:03 pm, the clerk of the House of Representatives Mohammed Sanni Omolori, concluded the roll call of members after the Clerk to the National Assembly, Maikasuwa had read the proclamation letter from President Muhammadu Buhari, in accordance with the law.
Of the 360 members, two persons were absent, leaving the floor to the 258 members to engage in the election of the principal officers.
With call for nominations made, Jibrin Abdulmumin, stood up to nominate Dogara for the position of Speaker, which was seconded by Chike Okafor.
Dogara accepted the nomination to the admiration of his supporters.
Minutes after, Mohammed Sanni from Bauchi state nominated Gbajabiamila for the contest and was seconded by Shuaibu Philips from Edo state.
As soon as Gbajabiamila accepted his nomination, the Clerk announced that secret ballot system would be adopted.
Members were called in a group of 10 and in alphabetical order of state of origin and asked to vote by writing the name of their preferred candidate.
The voting commenced at about 1:30 pm.
When the voting were concluded, and the ballots counted, Dogara emerged victorious with 182 votes, beating Gbajabiamila by a slim margin of 8 votes, as the APC adopted candidate scored 174 votes.
Wild jubilation erupted in the chamber, as Dogara’s supporters hugged one another while some supporters of Gbajabiamila who could not stomach the defeat were seen crying openly, while leaving the chambers.
The desire of the PDP to take absolute control of the lower parliament was however thwarted as members refused to nominate Leo Ogor, the immediate past Deputy Leader of the House, for the Deputy Speaker position. Ogor was said to have rallied the PDP members for Dogara, because he was promised the Deputy Speaker seat as compensation.
As soon as it dawned on Ogor that he had been edged out, he stormed out of the chambers angrily even before the nomination was made openly.
It took the intervention of some PDP members to bring him back into the chamber, and even then, he sat with anger openly visible on his face.
When nominations were made, Lasun Yusuf, an APC member from Osun State was nominated and put in the ring with Mohamned Tahir Monguno who was the Deputy Speaker-designate on the Gbajabiamila ticket. Yusuf garnered 203 votes to Monguno’s 153.
While the voting for the Deputy Speaker seat was still ongoing, the leadership of the APC in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, raised objection to the game that played out on the floor of the House and the Senate Chamber.
Meanwhile, celebration broke out in Bauchi State as soon news of Dogara’s emergence filtered in.
He represents the Bogoro Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of the state. Youths, women and political groups, Muslims and Christians were almost united in celebration as almost every man on the street of Bauchi was elated with the emergence of Dogara as the 8th Speaker.
Dogar, 48, is from Gwaranga village in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
He scored 182 to beat his main rival, Femi Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere Federal Constituency, Lagos state, in a keenly contested election. Gbajabiamila scored 174.
General News
MTN Go Make A Difference Campaign Heads to Kano, Celebrating Culture and Community Impact
MTN Nigeria is bringing its Go Make A Difference (Go M.A.D) campaign to Kano, the heartbeat of Northern Nigeria’s commerce, industry, and cultural heritage, on Friday, April 25, at Coolio Restaurant & Lounge.
This initiative is part of MTN’s continued mission to inspire Nigerians to take bold steps toward community development and digital empowerment.
Following exciting events in Abuja, Enugu, Calabar, Ibadan, Benin, Aba and Jos, the campaign now makes its way to Kano—a city renowned for its cultural pride and being the centre of commerce of northern Nigeria.
At the campaign launch, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, shared the vision behind Go M.A.D. “At MTN, we’re committed to progress—empowering Nigerians to rise above challenges and build something remarkable.
“Go M.A.D. is built on the idea that MTN data gives you the power to go further, dream bigger, and create real impact in your family, your business, and your community.
“This campaign is our way of saying: we see your hustle, we believe in your ideas, and we’re here to support your journey.”
In Kano, attendees will experience a unique blend of entertainment, Hausa culture, interactive games, and inspiring real-life stories with special guest appearances by notable celebrities.
The event will also feature Kahoot trivia games, a Go M.A.D puzzle, a pledge wall, and exciting giveaways of MTN-branded merchandise and digital devices.
The event aims to spotlight local entrepreneurs, artisans, creatives, and digital innovators from Kano who are making a real difference and standing out in their industries.
It will shine a light on individuals who are leveraging MTN’s digital tools to scale their businesses, refine their crafts, share bold ideas, and build sustainable careers in one of Nigeria’s most industrious cities.
Kano, with its deep-rooted legacy in trade, craftsmanship, and innovation, is an ideal host city for the Go M.A.D. campaign.
The event will honour other Go M.A.D. icons—local changemakers who are using technology, business acumen, and creativity to transform their communities and inspire others.
These icons reflect how digital access can break barriers and open up opportunities for growth and success.
The event will also celebrate Kano’s vibrant culture with traditional music performances, local fashion showcases and creative displays that highlight the city’s rich heritage. More than just a one-day experience, Go M.A.D. is a movement, one that encourages Kano’s youth to harness their talents, embrace digital innovation, and create real impact where it matters most.
With this activation, MTN reinforces its commitment to innovation, storytelling, and community-driven progress.
The Go M.A.D. campaign aims to build a generation of empowered Nigerians who are ready to make a difference, starting with their communities.
As part of Nigeria’s ongoing tax reform efforts, the federal government is proposing a new investment-driven incentive framework aimed at addressing long-standing inefficiencies in the current Pioneer Status Incentive (PSI).
The new scheme, known as the Economic Development Incentive (EDI), is designed to stimulate real economic activity by tying tax relief directly to verifiable investments.
This was the focus of a keynote address delivered by Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, at BusinessDay’s Policy Intervention Series held on April 22 in Lagos.
According to Oyedele, a close review of the Pioneer Status Incentive revealed structural flaws that have undermined its effectiveness. “Once granted Pioneer Status,” he said, “companies may import goods classified as ‘pioneer products’ tax-free, effectively allowing them to operate without tax obligations—even with minimal value addition to the economy.”
He further noted that while the PSI was initially designed to encourage investment, it created loopholes and ambiguities. For example, businesses often benefit from extended tax relief even after the designated holiday period ends.
“The assets used during the Pioneer period are essentially frozen in time,” Oyedele explained. “They’re treated as if acquired after the incentive ends—meaning companies only start claiming deductions once the holiday period is over. This creates long-term tax advantages that go well beyond the policy’s original intent.”
He also pointed out that the PSI makes it difficult for the government to quantify revenue forgone and for investors to clearly assess the value of the incentive—undermining transparency on both sides.
The Economic Development Incentive
The proposed Economic Development Incentive is a departure from the one-size-fits-all model. Instead, it’s structured around priority sectors—primarily manufacturing, followed by services and infrastructure—that have strong multiplier effects on the economy.
Another key design feature is the introduction of minimum investment thresholds to ensure only scalable and impactful projects qualify. For instance, companies operating in capital-intensive sectors like utilities would need to invest at least N200 billion to be eligible for the tax credit.
“The EDI is about real impact,” Oyedele said. “It’s time-bound, sector-targeted, and tied to actual capital deployment—not just approval on paper.”
Unlike blanket tax holidays, the EDI grants companies a 5 percent annual tax credit over five years—totaling 25 percent of the value of their qualifying investment. Importantly, this is in addition to existing capital allowances, making the scheme particularly attractive to long-term investors.
Crucially, approval under the scheme does not mean the investment has already been made. It only confirms that the company has a verified plan. The incentive kicks in only after capital is actually deployed, and all investments are subject to inspection by the Industrial Inspectorate Division.
Oyedele broke down how the system works using practical examples:
If a company invests N10 billion in Year 1, it earns a N500 million tax credit each year for five years. If an additional N5 billion is invested in Year 2, that new investment begins its own five-year 5 percent cycle—N250 million annually until Year 6.
If the company continues investing progressively, each round of investment starts a new five-year cycle of tax credits, potentially extending the benefit period up to 10 years.
For instance, if a business has a N15 million tax liability in a given year and applies N25 million in tax credits, its liability is wiped out entirely, with the N10 million balance rolled over to subsequent years.
However, there’s a catch: if a company fails to follow through on its investment plan or halts capital deployment, unused credits are forfeited. This accountability mechanism ensures that only consistent and credible investments are rewarded.
General News
FlashChange Partners Ruth Foundation to Empower Vulnerable Children in Alimosho with Skill Acquisition
In an inspiring initiative to uplift the next generation, FlashChange and Ruth Foundation have successfully implemented the “Orphanage Skill Acquisition Assembly 2.0 program,” a skills empowerment program for vulnerable children in Alimosho, Local Government Area of Lagos state.
The five-day programme, which began on Monday, April 14, was created to equip vulnerable children aged 4 to 18 years with essential life skills such as financial literacy, fashion design, photography, creative arts, cooking, and leadership development
Speaking at the closing ceremony of this year’s edition of the programme, the Chief Operating Officer, Flashchange, Olamide Ajibola said, “We are delighted to be part of this life-changing initiative.
“At FlashChange, we believe that children are the heartbeat of every community, by investing in their development today, we are not just shaping the future of individuals but nurturing future leaders, creators, and change-makers that would make a positive contribution to the growth and development of the society in the near future.”
“Initiatives of this nature gladdens our heart and we are open and willing to participate in them at any time. In the coming months, we hope to do more in that area as our own little way of improving society. This is in line with our CSR pillars, which include human capital development.”
Ajibola appreciated the benefitting children for accepting to be part of the life changing training which has the capacity to catapult them to a brighter future. The facilitators were also commended for impacting the children with the skills and knowledge to help shape their lives.
The founder Ruth Foundation, Itunuoluwa Ruth Da-Silva, in her remarks, expressed the foundation’s deepest appreciation to partnering organizations like FlashChange for believing in the vision and throwing their full weight behind it.
She said, “It will interest you to know that 153 vulnerable children benefitted from the Orphanage Skill Acquisition Assembly 2.0 programme and the training ran simultaneously at Compassionate Orphanage home; Precious Pearl Orphanage; Little Saints Orphanage and House of Mercy Orphanage respectively. Providing the children access to knowledge and skills early in life to create a ripple effect that can transform the entire community.”
The Chief Marketing Officer, FlashChange Jesujoba Ojelabi commended Ruth foundation for the initiative and urged the children to take the skills learnt seriously, as it has the capacity to change their lives for good.
He said, “As a company, we would be proud to lend our support to the foundation whenever we are called upon to do so in the future. My candid advice to you children would be this, to be great ambassadors of this initiative, you need to continuously put to practice the skills and knowledge you have acquired from the programme. We are indeed proud of you all and the success stories recorded so far.”
To support the continuous development of the children the following items were donated; electric sewing machine, cake mixer; packs of Yeye yarn, packs of pins, some stitch markers, scissors, measuring scale, make-up kit box filled with make-up tools among several others.
FlashChange and Ruth Foundation therefore urge community leaders, government organizations, private sector partners, and stakeholders to support programmes of this nature aimed at equipping children with the skills they need to thrive in a world that is evolving quickly.
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