UNCERTAINTY AS NORTH SPLIT OVER PLANNED PROTEST
Dons Eze
- July 27, 2024
- Foreign Affairs
- July 6, 2024
- 27 views
WHAT STARMER’S ELECTION VICTORY MEANS FOR JAPA
WHAT STARMER’S ELECTION VICTORY MEANS FOR JAPA The United Kingdom has a new leader. After more than a decade of Conservative rule, Labour Party’s Keir Starmer has been named the new British prime minister following a landslide victory at the general elections on Friday. “The work for change begins immediately,” Starmer said in his first speech outside of 10 Downing Street. “We will rebuild Britain…Brick by brick we will rebuild the infrastructure of opportunity.” But Starmer’s vision for a new Britain poses implications for the country’s international appeal and raises eyebrows on Labour’s immigration policy plan, particularly among Nigerians, who make up a large percentage of its migrant population. Starmer’s net migration plan Since last year, the Labour party has made clear its intentions to slash net migration numbers and build the country from within. “The overall [immigration] level must be properly controlled and managed. So, Labour will reduce net migration,” Starmer stated. “We will reform the points-based immigration system so that it is fair and properly managed, with appropriate restrictions on visas, and by linking immigration and skills policy.” Though Labour has not set a specific target, it has said it will reduce net migration to “a couple of hundred thousand a year.” This comes after the Conservative Party under Rishi Sunak had tightened its visa restrictions to stop up to 300,000 people from coming to the UK yearly. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s most recent forecast from March 2024 suggests that net migration should settle at around 350,000 per year from 685,000 in the next five years. “We will end the long-term reliance on overseas workers in some parts of the economy by bringing in workforce and training plans for sectors,” said the prime minister, who plans to reform the apprenticeship levy to upskill resident workers in its construction, IT and engineering industry. “The days of a sector languishing endlessly on immigration shortage lists with no action to train up workers will come to an end.” Salaries, dependants and minimum income Last year, the UK raised tensions in the country and across the world after announcing unprecedented major changes to its migration policies, including increases in minimum income requirement for family visas from £18,600 to £29,000. Starmer said he will ask the Migration Advisory Committee to review the effectiveness of these policies in achieving its migration goals, but has asserted that he will retain the ban on care workers’ bringing dependants into the UK. In 2023, the UK, under Sunak, implemented increases to UK immigration fees by 35 percent to £490, and the Immigration Health Surcharge from £15 to £115. Starmer is yet to decide on these fees, but it is expected he will make one in line with his party’s migration goals. Implications for the UK If the Labour Party is to implement its proposed decisions on immigration, it will come at a cost. Notably, a high proportion of the UK’s net migration figure are international students, and Nigeria and India account for the most increases in student or sponsored study visas granted by the UK in the past five years, according to official immigration data. BusinessDay reported that the majority of the increase in main applicants between 2019 and 2023 were from India (an addition of 85,849) and Nigerian (35,366) nationals. The Migration Advisory Committee has observed that the tuition fees paid by these students subsidise that of domestic students and help to expand the range of courses offered while making up for financial losses on domestic students and research, increasingly participating as a short-term labour supply for UK businesses, both as students and graduate route participants. Since the ban on bringing families, the United Kingdom has already witnessed a decline in the number of international students, including Nigerians…
- Foreign Affairs
- July 6, 2024
- 149 views
ABOUT CHI ONWURAH, LABOUR UK MP
ABOUT CHI ONWURAH LABOUR UK MP I was born in Wallsend, grew up on Hillsview Avenue in Kenton and went to Kenton School before studying Electrical Engineering in London. I have lived in many different cities around the world, without ever for a moment forgetting where I am from: Newcastle. My values and beliefs were formed in Newcastle based on the people I grew up with and my own experiences. My family My maternal grandfather was a sheet metal worker in the shipyards of the Tyne during the depression. My mother grew up in poverty in Garth Heads on the quayside. In the fifties she married my father, a Nigerian student at Newcastle Medical School. In 1965 I was born, whilst they were living in Long Benton where my father had a dental practise. I was still a baby when my father took us to live in Awka, Nigeria. But two years later the Biafran Civil War broke out bringing famine with it and, as described vividly in an Evening Chronicle article in 1968, my mother, my brother and sister and I returned as refugees to Newcastle, whilst my father stayed on in the Biafran army. This early experience of the impact of war on ordinary families left me with a strong sense of my own good fortune in living in a peaceful parliamentary democracy where it is possible to bring about change without taking up the gun or the sword. I am not a pacifist, I believe that our country is worth defending and fighting for. But we do live in a democracy and, increasingly, there are international institutions at the European and global level to enable us to pursue and defend our legitimate interests through debate and discussion. My education I benefited from a comprehensive, inspirational and free education for which I will always be grateful. I attended Hillsview nursery, infants and junior schools. A good start in a good school is critical in determining a child’s experience of education and the opportunities that it can bring. At Hillsview I learnt to enjoy learning, and to think that anything was possible. My mother made sure I understood how lucky I was to be able to walk two hundred yards to a great school when some children had to walk for hours to share a classroom with a hundred others. At 11 I went to Kenton Comprehensive School. I studied for my O and A levels, but also played for our netball and hockey teams, had my first taste of public speaking and learnt to play the saxophone moderately badly. My education enabled me to hold my own with people from every walk of life, and to earn my living doing something I love, engineering. I want every child in Newcastle to have that opportunity. When I was 17 I was elected Kenton School’s MP in a mock election. My working life Newcastle’s great industrial past was my inspiration to become an engineer and I enjoyed a fulfilling career in engineering after I graduated from Imperial College in 1987. I worked in hardware and software development, product management, market development and strategy for a variety of mainly private sector companies in a number of different countries – UK, France, US, Nigeria, Denmark. During this time I also studied for an MBA from Manchester Business School and gained Chartered Engineering status. As an engineer I specialised in building out infrastructure in new markets and standardising wholesale Ethernet access. My last role before entering parliament was as head of Telecoms Technology for Ofcom the Communications Regulator My interests I have always campaigned for the causes I believed in. As a student I campaigned against the Federation of Conservative Students at Imperial College. Later I…
PETER OBI SALUTES STARMER, UK LP, ON ELECTION VICTORY
PETER OBI SALUTES STARMER, UK LP, ON ELECTION VICTORY The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Nigeria election, Peter Obi, has congratulated the United Kingdom Labour Party and their leader, Keir Starmer,, for recording a historic victory in Thursday’s election. Reacting to the victory in his X handle on Friday, Mr Obi said he hopes the incoming prime minister will follow his campaign promises that made UK voters look his way. “I sincerely congratulate Mr Keir Starmer and the Labour Party UK on the landslide victory they recorded in Thursday’s election. “May the victory translate to a better and new chapter for all the UK residents as you remain committed to your electoral promises. “I also hope that your government will promote stronger ties between the UK and Nigeria and help in deepening our democracy, especially during these challenging times. Nigeria is grappling with issues such as insecurity, education, healthcare, and poverty and could greatly benefit from the support of the UK. “Let us work together to build a brighter future commonwealth for all”. Signed Dr Yunusa TankoPOMR SPOKESMAN
- Foreign Affairs
- July 6, 2024
- 131 views
YORUBA PARTY FAILS TO WIN SEAT IN UK PARLIAMENT, GARNERED ONLY 261 VOTES
YORUBA PARTY FAILS TO WIN SEAT IN PARLIAMENT, GARNERED ONLY 261 VOTES The Yoruba Party in the United Kingdom (YPUK) failed to secure a seat in the general election. YPUK only put forward one candidate for the Peckham constituency. As of the time of reporting, the party has garnered 261 votes. The Labour Party has secured 410 seats, with Keir Starmer, its candidate, set to become the next prime minister of the UK. In June, YPUK, a party founded by Olusola Oni, said it was fielding candidates in the election to empower the Yoruba voice in British politics. The party’s campaign promises included climate change action, reduction of taxes, quality national health service, immigration and “assisting Yoruba domiciled in the United Kingdom to achieve full potentials”. “Labour doesn’t know what to do. Tory don’t know what to do. We know what to do. Vote for the Yoruba Party,” the party said in a campaign post last month. “The Yoruba Party provides a political voice for the UK Yoruba community.” Other parties that secured zero seats in the election include UK Independence Party, Alliance for Green Socialism, Animal Welfare Party, Aontú, Ashfield Independents, Blue Revolution, Christian Party, Christian Peoples Alliance, Communist League, English Democrats, and Liberal. Others are Libertarian Party, Lincolnshire Independents, Monster Raving Loony Party, National Health Action Party, People Before Profit, Psychedelic Future Party, Rebooting Democracy, Scottish Family Party, Social Democratic Party, Socialist Equality, Socialist Labour Party, Socialist Party of Great Britain, The Common Good, The Common People, and The North East Party. Others are The Peace Party, The Yorkshire Party, Women’s Equality Party, Workers’ Revolutionary Party, Alba, Workers Party of Britain, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, True & Fair, Climate, Communist Party of Britain, Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party, New Open Non-Political Organised Leadership, Consensus, Alliance for Democracy and Freedom, Rejoin EU, British Democratic Party, Heritage Party, Scottish Libertarian Party, Independence for Scotland, Freedom Alliance, Independent Network, Liverpool Community Independents, Transform, One Leicester, Volt, Kingston Independent Residents Group, Independents for Direct Democracy, Stockport Fights Austerity No to Cuts, Confelicity, and English Constitution Party. Rishi Sunak, outgoing prime minister, said he takes responsibility for the loss of the Conservative Party. “Britain has delivered a sobering verdict. On this difficult night, I’d like to express my gratitude to the people of Richmond and Northallerton constituency for your continued support,” Sunak said. “The Labour Party has won this general election and I’ve called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory. “Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner, with goodwill on all sides. That is something that should give us all confidence in our country’s stability and future. “There is much to learn… and I take responsibility for the loss.“To the many good, hard-working Conservative candidates who lost tonight, despite their tireless efforts, their local records and delivery, and their dedication to their communities, I am sorry.”
- Foreign Affairs
- July 6, 2024
- 165 views
SIX NIGERIAN-BRITISH CANDIDATES WIN ELECTION TO UK PARLIAMENT
SIX NIGERIAN-BRITISH CANDIDATES WIN ELECTION TO UK PARLIAMENT Six British-Nigerian candidates have been elected to Parliament in the just concluded UK elections. According to reports, Chi Onwurah (Labour MP for Newcastle Central and West), Kemi Badenoch (Saffron Walden), Kate Osamor (Edmonton), Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green), Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West), and Bayo Alaba (Southend East and Rochford) all won their respective seats. In the past, other Nigerian-British politicians have also made history in UK politics. Helen Grant, a British-Nigerian politician, became the first African-born Conservative MP in 2010. Similarly, Chuka Umunna, a British-Nigerian politician, was elected as a Labour MP in 2010 and later became the chair of the Vote Leave campaign. This latest crop of Nigerian-British MPs joins a growing list of trailblazers who are making a significant impact in UK politics.The successful candidates have been praised for their hard work and dedication to their constituencies, and are expected to bring a unique perspective to the House of Commons.
- Foreign Affairs
- July 6, 2024
- 112 views
NEW UK PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, CANCELS RWANDA DEPORTATION PLAN
NEW UK PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, CANCELS RWANDA DEPORTATION PLAN On his first day in office, newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has put an end to the Conservative’s contentious plan to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda. Starmer faces pressure to address the UK’s migration challenges, especially regarding asylum seekers arriving via small boats from France. On his inaugural day as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has acted decisively to terminate the Conservative government’s controversial plan to deport migrants arriving illegally in the UK to Rwanda. The announcement was reported by the Telegraph, citing sources from the Labour Party. Starmer had previously vowed to eliminate the policy, which had sparked widespread debate and criticism. However, with migration being a pivotal issue in electoral politics, the new Prime Minister faces significant pressure to find alternative solutions for managing the influx of asylum seekers arriving across the English Channel.The move signifies a dramatic policy shift and raises questions about the future of the UK’s broader migration strategy, as tens of thousands of people continue to make the perilous journey from France to British shores in small boats.
- Foreign Affairs
- July 5, 2024
- 150 views
BREAKING: NEW UK PRIME MINISTER, KIER STARMER, MAKES TEN CABINET APPOINTMENTS
BREAKING: NEW UK PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, MAKES TEN CABINET APPOINTMENT Newly-elected UK Prime Minister, KeIr Starmer, has made his first set of appointments into the cabinet, BBC reports Friday. This follows his centre-left Labour Party’s landslide general election victory that ended 14 years of Conservative rule. Starmer arrived as the party’s first Prime Minister since Gordon Brown in 2010, and had been asked by King Charles III to form a government during a meeting at Buckingham Palace on Friday. Below is the list of the 10 new cabinet members: Angela Rayner – Deputy Prime Minister Rachel Reeves – Chancellor David Lammy – Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper – Home Secretary John Healey – Defence Secretary Pat McFadden– Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Ed Miliband – Energy Secretary Bridget Phillipson – Education Secretary Wes Streeting – Health Secretary Shabana Mahmood – Justice Secretary
STOP KILLING NIGERIANS, ECONOMY – NLC TELLS TINUBU’S GOVT
STOP KILLING NIGERIANS, ECONOMY – NLC TELLS TINUBU’S GOVT The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has cautioned the President Bola Tinubu-led government and Electricity Distribution Companies over the hike in tariff. Ajaero, in a statement on Thursday, said the hike in electricity, especially for ‘Band A’, has put more companies out of business as well as created more difficulties for consumers. He noted that the NLC’s agitation for the hike subsided because they had a firm assurance from relevant quarters, including the National Assembly, that the matter would be dealt with quietly. The NLC demanded an immediate reversal of the hike, adding that the Government and DISCOs should stop killing the people and the economy. The statement read, “The hike in tariff by DISCOs from N206.80 to N209.5 (with effect from July 1) for the so-called band ‘A’ customers represents the height of impunity and arrogance and will certainly put more companies out of business as well as create more difficulties for consumers. “This increment has come in the heels of unresolved contestations around the insane 250% hike in tariff leading to national paralysis including the shutting down of 300 businesses as per MAN. “The 250% hike drew the ire of the citizenry and rage of organised labour whose members went on a one-day protest for its unreasonableness and violation of extant rules of tariff hike. “We had demanded a reversal. The only reason that action was paused was a firm assurance from relevant quarters, including the National Assembly, that the matter would be dealt with quietly. “That there is another hike instead of a reversal (as promised) is further proof of the insincerity of government just as it is equally a measure of government’s insensitivity. “We have no doubt that this frequent crass display of insincerity and insensitivity will pit the people against the government or vice versa. “The three excuses given by DISCOs (exchange rate, interest rate and cost of gas) as justification for this increase underscore our argument that the government and entities in the energy sector are not serious about finding an enduring solution to our energy crisis. For, clearly, they are treating the symptoms. “Given the further damage this latest wave of increase will do to our economy, we demand an immediate reversal of the hike.“It is unjustifiable, unreasonable and malevolent. Government and DISCOs should stop killing the people and the economy.”
BREAKING: PRO-FUBARA LAWMAKERS CHALLENGE APPEAL COURT VERDICT ON PRO-WIKE GROUP AT SUPREME COURT
BREAKING: PRO-FUBARA LAWMAKERS CHALLENGE APPEAL VERDICT ON PRO-WIKE GROUP AT SUPREME COURT A faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge Thursday’s judgement of the Court of Appeal, on the fate of 25 members of the House, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC. Factional Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, confirmed the development while addressing lawmakers during the plenary at a temporary facility used for legislative business in Port Harcourt on Friday. Oko-Jumbo clarified that the action was necessitated by the fact that the Assembly “strongly believes that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the Jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO. PHC/1512/CS/2024.” He declared that he remained the authentic Speaker of the House because there cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State. The factional Speaker reiterated that the seats of Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 24 other embattled lawmakers remained vacant as declared by the then speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, on December 12, 2023, following their defection from the PDP to APC on the December 11, 2023 in contravention of extant laws. He said: “There cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State or indeed any State in Nigeria. This House of Assembly, with me as the Speaker, is the only House of Assembly in Rivers State. “As the whole world knows, on the 11th day of December, 2023, Martin Amaewhule and his 24 friends defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress. “On the 13th Day of December, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, declared the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others in the RSHA vacant. That declaration by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie has not been set aside by any court in Nigeria.” Oko-Jumbo explained that the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly secured a restraining order against Martin Ameawhule and the 24 others when they continued to parade themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly despite their defection from the PDP to the APC and their seats consequently declared vacant. He said that because they felt dissatisfied with the rulings of the Rivers State High Court in Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024, Amaewhule and 24 others had filed an Appeal No. CA/PH/198/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division. The factional Speaker added: “Yesterday, the 4th of July, 2024, the Court of Appeal, in its lead Judgement, allowed the Appeal by Martin Ameawhule & 24 ORS on the ground that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case. “Accordingly, the Court of Appeal struck out Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024 and NOTHING MORE. The Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS did not defect from the PDP to APC. “The Court of Appeal also did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule and 24 ORS are still members of the RSHA. “We strongly believe that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO PHC/1512/CS/2024. “Accordingly, we have instructed our lawyers and they have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 4th Day of July, 2024. “Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS, in spite of all their pretences, are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and they remain so until a court of competent jurisdiction says otherwise. “Once again, we the…
LAWYER DRAGS ENUGU GOVT TO COURT OVER ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION
LAWYER DRAGS ENUGU GOVT TO COURT OVER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION A Nigerian citizen, Barrister Olu Omotayo has instituted a suit at the Enugu State High Court, against Governor Peter Mbah and the state Ministry of Transport over human rights violation and continuous violation of the Road Traffic Law by agents of the state. Omotayo, is president of a human rights organisation, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN, through which he filed the matter. In the suit Omotayo Esq V. Governor of Enugu State and Ministry of Transport, suit No. E/534/2024, the Plaintiff, leading two other lawyers Hammed Wasiu Adeyemi Esq. and Desmond Kakaan Esq. seek the determination of the following questions: Whether by virtue of Section 36(2)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended) and Article 7 (1) (d), of the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement Act) Cap. A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, can the 2nd defendant arrest, prosecute and impose fine on the Plaintiff for violation of road regulation without hearing from the Plaintiff or allow him to make representation to defend himself. Also, whether the 2nd defendant can lawfully make regulations and impose fine not provided for under the Road Traffic Law in view of the provision of Section 36, Road Traffic Law, Cap 137, Vol. V, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria,2004, which vested the power in the Commissioner of Police to make Order or by general direction regulate traffic in the state. Upon the Determination of the above-questions, the Plaintiff shall seek the following reliefs; A Declaration that the arrest of the Plaintiff on the 13th February 2024, and the towing of his vehicle while he was sitting therein to the premises of the 2nd defendant by officials of 2nd Defendant popularly refer to as MOT officials, without the Plaintiff committing any offence known to the law constitute a flagrant violation of Section 36(8) and 36(12) Of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended) and Articles 7(2), of the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement Act) Cap. A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Omotayo, is equally seeking A declaration that the arrest, and detention of the plaintiffs’ vehicle and the subsequent imposition of fine on the Plaintiff by the defendants without bringing him before a court of competent jurisdiction or allow him to make representation to defend himself violates the cardinal Principle of the right to fair hearing and therefore constitute a flagrant violation of Section 36(2)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended) and Article 7 (1) (d), of the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement Act) Cap. A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. A Declaration that by virtue of the Road Traffic Law, Cap 137, Vol. V, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria,2004, the defendant cannot create penalties for offences unknown to the Road Traffic Law Cap 137, Vol. V, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria,2004. N30,500 : 00K (Thirty thousand five hundred Naira) being specific damages for unlawful seizure of the Plaintiff vehicle. He is therefore seeking a declaration for N100,000 000 : 00K (One hundred million naira) general damages against the Defendants jointly and severally for trespass to person, unlawful arrest and detention and subjecting the Plaintiff to psychological torture and degrading treatment. Omotayo had in his argument in support of the application submitted that it violates the constitutional right to fair hearing for the defendants and their agents to effect an arrest, prosecute the arrestee and also be the judge who impose penalty on the arrestee. He further argued that the 2nd defendant cannot lawfully make regulations and…