Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-driven demands for government action in addressing citizens’ concerns.

1. Punch: Ibas Rejects Assembly’s Move to Probe Six-Month Spending

The Punch reports that the immediate past Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), and the Rivers State House of Assembly may be gearing up for a showdown following the latter’s decision to probe the state’s expenditure over the last few months under the former.

The Rivers State House of Assembly, presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, during its first plenary after the end of emergency rule, said it would investigate the state expenditure during the six months of emergency rule.

Our Take: Rivers people deserve more than a tug-of-war between Ibas and the Assembly; if ₦1 was spent during those six months, every kobo must be traced and explained, because governance is not a masquerade dance where the money disappears under the costume. We urge lawmakers to conduct a transparent, credible probe, and call on Ibas to cooperate fully, so citizens are not left clapping for drama while their resources slip quietly out the back door.

2. ThisDayLive: Unreconciled Federation Funds: FAAC Awaits NNPC on $42.37 Billion, OAGF on N2 Trillion Pending Payments

ThisDayLive reports that the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has raised fresh concerns over huge unreconciled revenues, disclosing that more than $42.37 billion allegedly due from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to the Federation Account remains unresolved.

At the same time, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has been tasked to account for over N2.03 trillion in outstanding payables relating to taxes and royalties.

Our Take: If over $42.37 billion and ₦2 trillion can vanish into the fog of ‘unreconciled revenues’, then FAAC must urgently demand more than polite excuses from NNPC and the OAGF, because citizens cannot keep reconciling their stomachs with thin air while oil money disappears into endless audits. It is time for the government to stop acting like FAAC stands for ‘Forget About Accountability Committee’ and actually ensure these funds are traced, recovered, and put to work for the people.

3. The Nation: State Police, Power Devolution, Others Back on Front Burner

The Nation reports that the House of Representatives will today hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution and issues on the front burner are state police, power devolution, state police, special legislative seats for women, electoral and judicial reforms among others.

Our Take: As lawmakers dust off the constitution yet again, we call on citizens to show up and speak out at the hearing, because leaving state police, women’s representation, and electoral reforms in the hands of politicians alone is like asking mosquitoes to draft malaria policy. Citizens must insist that this amendment process finally delivers a document that protects citizens, not just the political class.