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: IGP Pledges Reform as Retired Officers Protest Poor Pension Under Contributory Scheme
Anger over poor pensions boiled over yesterday as retired police officers staged protests in Abuja and Calabar, decrying what they described as ‘humiliating and dehumanising’ retirement benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
However, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to addressing the concerns of retired officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Our Take: Inspector-General Egbetokun, while your empathy is duly noted and your meetings commendable, Nigerian retirees cannot survive on kind words and committee updates. It is time to move from compassionate press statements to concrete pension reforms.
2. Daily Trust: Rebasing: Nigeria’s GDP Hits N372.82 Trillion as Poverty Rate Worsens
Following the rebasing of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday stated that Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.13 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from the 2.27 per cent recorded in the same period in 2024.
In nominal terms, the economy grew to N372.82 trillion from N205.09 trillion in the base year of 2019.
Our Take: While the rebased GDP figure of N372.82 trillion paints a picture of economic growth on paper, it does little to console the millions of Nigerians battling rising food prices, joblessness, and worsening poverty. The government must urgently ensure that this statistical progress translates into tangible improvements in living standards.
3. Punch: Electricity Act fallout: Gencos, Discos Rage as States Begin Tariff Cuts
More states have announced plans to reduce electricity tariffs in their jurisdictions after the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission issued a new tariff order to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, revising the electricity cost for Band A customers from N209 per kilowatt-hour to N160/kWh, effective 01 August, 2025.
Our Take: As more states exercise their powers under the Electricity Act to lower tariffs, the federal government and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) must urgently convene a transparent dialogue with all stakeholders, states, Gencos, Discos, and consumers, to prevent a full-blown crisis.