We are back with Wednesday’s roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, where we call government’s attention to the concerns and needs of the people.
1. Daily Trust: Senate’s e-transmission approval raises new questions
The Senate has said ‘yes’ to electronic transmission, but only after EC8A forms have been signed and stamped. By rescinding its earlier rejection and revising Clause 60(3) to allow both electronic and manual processes, the upper chamber has introduced a caveat that is now raising fresh questions about clarity, consistency, and what this really means for the credibility of future elections.
Our Take: Nigerians need to demand that the Senate make electronic transmission of results mandatory, clear, and non-negotiable, not ‘electronic when convenient, manual when interesting’. We should insist on a law that protects votes, not one that leaves room for technical gymnastics after results have already been ‘carefully arranged’.
2. The Guardian: CISLAC urges action as Nigeria dips in global corruption ranking
Just when it seemed the country had mastered the art of standing still, the latest Corruption Perceptions Index shows that Nigeria has somehow managed to move backwards, slipping to 142nd place with the same score of 26 out of 100.
Our Take: If Nigeria is tired of keeping a reserved seat near the bottom of the corruption rankings, President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly leadership, state governors, and heads of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC must move from rhetoric to visible, measurable action, strengthen institutional independence, ensure transparent budgeting and procurement, and allow swift, impartial prosecution of corruption cases, no matter whose name is involved.
3. Punch: States pay N455 billion to service foreign loans
As states dig deeper into Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to service foreign debts, coughing up a hefty N455.38 billion in 2025, a sharp jump from last year, the question would be, where exactly did the borrowed money go? With a 25.77 percent increase in repayments now shrinking funds meant for salaries and development, Nigerians are left watching their states pay premium subscriptions on loans while basic services still buffer endlessly.
Our Take: We should demand full transparency from state governors on the terms of these foreign loans, what the funds were used for, and how exactly the borrowed money is improving lives, not just balance sheets. We deserve detailed public debt reports, project-by-project breakdowns, and clear repayment plans tied to measurable development outcomes. If billions are leaving FAAC each year, then there should be roads that stay paved, hospitals that function, and schools that reflect the borrowing, not press conferences explaining why there is ‘no money’ for salaries.
