Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-driven demands for government action in addressing citizens’ concerns.
1. Punch: Midterm Review: APC Fights Back as Labour Counters Tinubu’s Scorecard
Organised Labour on Thursday delivered an unflattering assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s two years in office, saying his reforms and policies brought nothing but pain and suffering to Nigerians.
The labour movement countered Tinubu’s claims that the worst days are over, pointing out that his economic reforms have plunged over 150 million Nigerians into multidimensional poverty.
Our Take: In light of organised labour’s sobering midterm assessment, President Tinubu should reassess his administration’s economic reform strategies to ensure they are inclusive, people-centred, and capable of delivering real relief to Nigerians, because if this is what renewed hope looks like, Nigerians might just start missing the old despair.
2. The Guardian: MAN Decries over 18,000 Job Cuts, Hostile Environment
The Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, has raised alarm over 18,000 jobs lost in 2024 due to the increasingly hostile business environment in the country. He also noted unsold goods inventory, which rose by 87.5 percent to N2.14 trillion in 2024, as a result of low purchasing power, inflation and rising production costs.
Our Take: Given the critical role of manufacturing in driving economic growth and employment, there is a need to implement targeted interventions to address the macroeconomic challenges crippling the sector. We call on the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other relevant agencies to create responsive policies, provide fiscal incentives, and improve access to affordable financing to restore investor confidence, boost local production, and stem the tide of job losses.
3. Daily Trust: Niger Flood: Family Loses 12 Members, Over 50 Almajiri Missing
An unspecified number of people have reportedly lost their lives in a flood that swept through Mokwa town, headquarters of Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
Our Take: In response to the devastating flood in Mokwa, which has claimed multiple lives and displaced dozens, including vulnerable Almajiri children, the federal and Niger State governments should mobilise emergency relief efforts to support affected families and restore critical infrastructure. The state government should also invest in long-term flood mitigation strategies to prevent future tragedies and protect lives and livelihoods across flood-prone regions.
