Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines with our advocacy calls for today, 21 March, 2025.

1. ‘Rivers emergency rule: N’Assembly backs Tinubu as Fubara counters President’s allegation’ – Punch

The National Assembly, on Thursday, endorsed the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday. The parliament backed Tinubu’s proclamation amidst calls from the opposition leaders to reject it.

Our Take: Nigerians must remain vigilant in defending democratic principles and the rule of law, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. The imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State raises concerns about executive overreach and the potential erosion of constitutional governance. We call on citizens to demand transparency, adherence to due process, and respect for the separation of powers to prevent any actions that may undermine the will of the people.

2. ‘Report hinges failure of public water services on corruption, negligence’ – The Guardian 

A recent report released has blamed corruption and deliberate underfunding by state governments for the poor state of water infrastructure across Nigeria.

Our Take: Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, and state ministries of water resources must urgently wake up from their deep slumber and tackle the issues on ground. It’s time to stop issuing empty promises and start fixing pipes, reviving dams, and ensuring that Nigerians don’t have to fetch water like it’s the 18th century.

3. ‘Corp members will get N77,000 allowance this month’ – Daily Trust

Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will begin to enjoy the newly reviewed federal allowance of N77,000.00 monthly from March, 2025.
Our Take: The promise of N77,000 has lingered since January. Corps members, who serve diligently despite economic hardships, deserve more than just assurances; they need timely payments. We call on Brig. Gen. Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu to ensure this is not another case of audio money.