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

1. Vanguard: Our Economy is Back on Track – Bagudu

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, has highlighted what he described as bold reforms taken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the past two years, saying despite short-term pain, the reforms were steadily positioning the nation’s economy for sustained recovery and growth.

Our Take: If the economy is truly ‘back on track’, then Minister Bagudu and the Tinubu administration must move beyond optimistic speeches and show Nigerians the receipts by ensuring that these so-called reforms translate into lower living costs, accessible jobs, and real improvements in daily life. There must be efforts to ensure that economic recovery is not just felt in boardrooms and briefings, but in markets, homes, and paychecks across the country.

2. The Guardian: SERAP, HURIWA Urge Tinubu to Drop APC ‘RECs’, Fear Manipulation 

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his appointment of alleged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

SERAP urged him to nominate qualified Nigerians of integrity and non-members of political parties as replacements for the nominated APC members and to submit the names of any such Nigerians for confirmation by the Senate ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Our Take: We call on President Tinubu to withdraw the nomination of partisan individuals as Resident Electoral Commissioners and instead put forward credible, non-partisan Nigerians with proven integrity to safeguard the independence of INEC and uphold the credibility of future elections. He should also direct the Attorney General to initiate legislative reforms that will strengthen INEC’s autonomy in line with constitutional principles and public trust.

3. Punch: 3,012 kidnappings, 3,584 killings recorded in 15 months – NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has documented no fewer than 3,012 incidents of kidnapping and 3,584 killings in Nigeria between January 2024 and April 2025.

Our Take: President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egebtokun must urgently step up and take responsibility for ending the bloodbath. The NHRC’s alarming figures should shake the halls of power, not echo into silence.