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

1. The Guardian: How Interests, Overlapping Roles May Undermine New Tax Regime

The Guardian reports that less than a week after the much-expected tax retooling laws were signed, there are concerns that gaping holes in the pieces of legislation could derail the implementation and scuttle the ambitious goals, a possibility that calls for urgent realignment and tackling of the inherent witness.

Our Take: To safeguard the success of the new tax reforms, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the newly proposed Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, should convene a multi-stakeholder review to clarify agency roles, harmonise overlapping mandates, address funding concerns arising from changes in Cost of Revenue Collection (CORC), and ensure transparent implementation within the six-month transition period.

2. Daily Trust Turji’s Ally, Danbokolo, Six Bandit Commanders, 182 Foot Soldiers Killed 

Daily Trust reports that Kachalla Yellow Danbokolo, a notorious bandit and close ally of Kachalla Turji, and six bandit commanders, have been killed in a village in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

They were eliminated during a gun battle with operatives of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG) on Sunday.

Our Take: In light of the successful operation by the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG), the Federal Ministry of Defence, the Nigerian Army, and the Zamfara State Government must urgently consolidate gains by increasing logistical and intelligence support to local security outfits, while the Office of the National Security Advisor and Nigeria Police Force should coordinate efforts to dismantle remaining terror networks and prevent reprisal attacks.

3. Punch: SSANU Threatens Fresh Action over Withheld Salaries

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has asked the Federal Government to release the remaining two months’ withheld salaries of its members who participated in the 2022 strike.

The union also decried the delay in salary payments to federal universities, often weeks after other federal workers have been paid.

Our Take: The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministries of Labour and Employment, Education, and Finance, should urgently address the grievances of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) by releasing the remaining two months of withheld salaries and ensuring timely payment of monthly wages to university staff. Delays and selective enforcement of agreements risk further disruption to the academic calendar and erode trust in government-labour relations within the education sector.