News
Nigeria Moves Towards Parliamentary System: House of Reps Considers Prime Minister Role
The Nigerian House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards restructuring the country’s governance system by passing a bill for a constitutional amendment to create the office of a Prime Minister as the Head of Government, while the President would serve as the Head of State. The bill, which passed its second reading, is part of a broader effort to amend the 1999 Constitution, with a total of 32 proposed changes under consideration.
Among other key amendments is a proposal to reserve specific legislative seats for women at the national and state levels, addressing long-standing calls for gender inclusion in governance. Another crucial bill seeks to expedite the resolution of pre-election disputes by establishing dedicated tribunals, potentially reducing prolonged legal battles that often disrupt Nigeria’s electoral process.
Additionally, the House is considering altering the eligibility requirements for presidential and gubernatorial candidates, reviewing the Federal Capital Territory’s role in presidential elections, and creating new states such as Wan and Gobir. These amendments, if successful, could mark one of the most significant overhauls of Nigeria’s political framework since the return to democracy in 1999.
Foreign
“Take It Down Act” Signed Into Law: Federal Protection Against Non-Consensual Image Sharing.
President Donald Trump has signed the “Take It Down Act” into law, criminalizing the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including those generated by artificial intelligence. The legislation mandates the prompt removal of such content by digital platforms and carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment for offenders.
The law garnered bipartisan support and addresses growing concerns surrounding the proliferation of deepfakes and non-consensual pornography. Platforms failing to remove flagged content within 48 hours face civil penalties. First Lady Melania Trump, a vocal supporter of the bill, attended the signing ceremony.
While praised as a significant step in protecting individuals from online exploitation, the law has also drawn criticism. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, for example, warns of potential for misuse, suggesting the legislation may grant excessive censorship powers and stifle lawful speech. Digital platforms are now mandated to implement rapid response systems for content removal upon receiving complaints.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the impending release of the results for the 379,000 candidates who participated in the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This resit examination, conducted between Friday and Monday, followed widespread reports of technical and logistical challenges during the initial UTME administration, primarily impacting candidates in Lagos and the South-East.
JAMB acknowledged systemic lapses necessitating the resit, and Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede publicly accepted responsibility for the disruptions. The release of these results comes amidst broader concerns regarding overall UTME performance, with a significant proportion of the 1.95 million candidates scoring below 200 out of 400. The Board’s spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed the results will be accessible on Wednesday. The public awaits these results with keen interest, anticipating insights into whether the resit effectively addressed the initial issues and improved candidate outcomes.
Controversial northern politician Hajiya Nàja’atu Mohammed has publicly accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of prioritizing the development of the South-West region at the expense of national unity. Speaking on the Political Advantage Platform (PAP) podcast, Mohammed alleged that the government’s policies disproportionately favor the Yoruba ethnic group, asserting that the administration is “about Yorubas for Yorubas and by Yorubas.”
While claiming no personal animosity towards the President, Mohammed criticized Tinubu for allegedly focusing on regional development using national resources. She further attributed the current economic hardship to the government’s perceived disregard for the concerns of ordinary Nigerians, coupled with its reliance on external bodies for guidance.
Mohammed, a former member of Tinubu’s presidential campaign team, expressed disappointment with the administration’s performance, particularly in addressing insecurity and fulfilling the initial expectations surrounding Tinubu’s perceived experience as Governor of Lagos. Her statements raise significant questions regarding the perceived regional balance and national unity under the current administration.
“Take It Down Act” Signed Into Law: Federal Protection Against Non-Consensual Image Sharing.
2025 UTME: JAMB to Release Resit UTME Results Amidst Performance Concerns.
