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Nigerians voted in general elections on February 23 to choose their president for the following term. The elections are conducted using a first-past-the-post system and elect representatives of the lower house and the president. Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari (76) was re-elected (his first win being in 2015), defeating his main opponent and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar (72). The All Progressives Congress Party (APC) won 56% of the votes while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) received 41%.
Atiku Abubakar has rejected the election results, claiming it to be 'militarized' and a 'disservice' to the nation. He has threatened to appeal in the court and has shammed the election. The Governorship, State Houses of Assembly and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils elections will be held on March 9, concluding the general elections for the following 4-year term.
The President will be responsible of reviving a sluggish economy, that ran into a recession in 2015. Nigeria is home to one of the biggest Islamic militant groups in Africa, Boko Haram, which has grown stronger over the years. The government's struggles to curb Boko Haram's influence has been insufficient, leading to high number of deaths and crimes, especially during the election time. Issues of incapable security measures and rising terrorism are a major obstacle in the development of the largest democracy in Africa. Other issues to be addressed by the new government include poverty, power shortages and high corruption.
The New Green Deal is proposed by US congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cotez. It is a platform pushed by some democrats to tackle climate change while stimulating the economy. The name is inspired from Franklin D Roosevelt's employment plan in the 1930s which was called 'The New Deal'. Some of its aims include decreasing the reliability of fossil fuels, mellowing the effects of carbon in agriculture and aiming to make the economy carbon free within 10 years. One of the major benefits of adopting the New Green Deal is that it will create green jobs. Green jobs are those kind of employment services that contribute towards restoring and preserving the environment.
Green jobs are going to be the future when it comes to employment services. One understanding is that the government will subsidize those companies that will contribute towards the employment, the subsidization can range from tax subsidies to production subsidies.
Therefore, for the tertiary sector is bound to benefit through the green new deal. The deal is also tackling income equality through guaranteeing federal wage. It is being backed by some democrats in the house too. Despite support from the democrats, most republicans in the senate have called the programme too messy and expensive. It is more worrying as President Trump doesn't believe in climate change and most republicans follow his suit. It is unfortunate that climate reforms cannot be passed through the US congress despite democrats having majority in the House of Representatives. A similar climate change reforms was attempted in 2010 but failed to pass.
Early February, several Labour MPs said that they are considering resignation in protest of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. MPs Owen Smith and Luciana Berger both suggested they would resign if the Labour leader helps Theresa May take Britain out of the EU.
Not so long ago, after May's historic 230-vote defeat, it looked as if the only way she would pass her deal was to let Labour MPs reshape it. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn then refused to meet her, forcing May to turn back to her own party. However recently Corbyn has dropped his objections to meeting May and has reached out to her with a softened stance.
Mr Smith, a supporter of the campaign for a fresh referendum, said it was "possible" he would leave if Labour allows Brexit to happen, while Ms Berger is firm on her resignation. Another Labour MP, Chris Leslie, hinted this weekend that he could also quit since it would be trying and disappointing to face the emerging questions if Labour enables Brexit. He added: "Those of us who believe that Brexit is wrong in principle for our country and wrong in practice, still have an opportunity to influence the Labour Party and to seek the Labour Party to pursue what I think would be the right course of action."
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