Welcome to Tuesday’s roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-focused calls on issues that impact citizens.

1. The Guardian: Investors Wary as Demolitions Flatten over 2,500 Houses 

The Guardian reports that despite the federal government’s inauguration of an expanded Ministerial Task Team to address Nigeria’s persistent building collapse crisis, six months on, incidents continue to occur, leaving professionals in the built environment deeply concerned. Since the first recorded collapse in Oyo State in October 1974, which claimed 27 lives due to excessive loading, Nigeria has recorded about 658 building collapses over 50 years, resulting in an estimated 1,621 deaths.

Our Take: Six months after the inauguration of the expanded Ministerial Task Team, buildings are still collapsing, suggesting that task forces alone cannot hold up concrete. The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, state governments, development control agencies, and professional bodies such as COREN, NIA and CORBON must move from statements to strict enforcement, sanctions and accountability. Otherwise, Nigerians may soon need safety briefings before entering their homes

2. Autonomy battle: LGs demand direct funds as states receive N7.43 trillion

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and the National Union of Local Government Employees have endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s plan to enforce direct deductions of local government funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, amid continued control of council allocations by state governments.

Our Take: The Nigeria Governors’ Forum should lead this shift, not resist it, unless governors intend to keep local councils as ceremonial offices with signboards and no spending power. President Bola Tinubu’s warning of an Executive Order should not be necessary, because in a federation governed by law, obedience to court rulings should not require presidential reminders.

3. Vanguard: We Didn’t Alter Tax Laws — FG

The Presidency, yesterday, distanced itself from alleged alterations of the tax bill passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.

Addressing questions from journalists, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, dismissed claims of executive interference in the tax law process, saying any discrepancy identified was an affair of the National Assembly.

Our Take: With public trust already stretched thin, the National Assembly must urgently clarify any discrepancies in the tax bill and publish the authentic version passed by both chambers. Nigerians should not be left guessing which version of the law they are being taxed under, as taxes are compulsory enough without mystery clauses.