President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday pledged to address tariffs on newspaper and broadcasting materials as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s media industry and enable it to perform its constitutional responsibilities more effectively.
The President made the commitment at the State House, Abuja, while hosting leaders of the Nigerian media industry, including representatives of the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO), Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Tinubu commended media owners, editors, and journalists for their dedication to informing and educating the public, keeping citizens updated on national developments, and creating jobs and livelihoods for thousands of Nigerians.
He stressed that effective leadership requires making difficult decisions at the right time, noting that his administration had to take painful but necessary measures to rescue the country from economic collapse.
“Leadership must, as a matter of responsibility, make decisions at the best time. Yes, I accepted my predecessor’s assets and liabilities because I applied for the job and was given the job. So I have to do it,” the President said.
He acknowledged the criticism that trailed the early days of his administration, saying it served as motivation during a critical period.
“I thank you for your criticism at the beginning of the administration. You challenged me. Thank you for inspiring and challenging me at a critical moment in my life,” he added.
Tinubu said the administration inherited serious economic challenges, including outstanding obligations to airlines for ticket reimbursements, volatile exchange rates, and rising inflation, but maintained that the country had since made significant progress.
“Today, I can stand proudly before you and say that we are back from the brink,” he stated.
Responding to concerns raised by media stakeholders over tariffs affecting the industry, the President assured them that the matter would be revisited.
“We discussed issues of tariffs this afternoon. What I cannot report back here is whether I took action in the areas that affect you. But if I missed that, I will go back to rectifying whatever was necessary,” Tinubu said.
He also praised the media for what he described as constructive criticism, noting that as a regular reader of Nigerian newspapers, he accepts reports and commentary in good faith because all stakeholders share a common goal of national progress.
The President further urged the media to extend its watchdog role to all levels of government, emphasizing that the Federal Government’s reform policies have increased resources available to states and local governments.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed confidence in the President’s resilience and leadership, saying the Nigerian media remain hopeful that the administration will deliver sustainable progress for the country.
He urged media practitioners to continue discharging their constitutional responsibilities responsibly while holding governments at all levels accountable.
Speaking during the meeting, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Grand Patron of NPAN, praised Tinubu for what he described as bold and transformative economic reforms.
Osoba specifically commended the establishment of the Nigeria Revenue Service and the National Single Window policy, saying both initiatives have the potential to significantly improve the country’s revenue generation.
He also applauded the President for urging state governors to ensure that increased federal allocations are used to improve the welfare of citizens at the grassroots.
Earlier, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher of BusinessDay and President of the Nigeria Press Organisation, commended Tinubu for sustaining a cordial relationship with the media and appealed for presidential intervention on import tariffs affecting newsprint and broadcast equipment.
Aigbogun also called on the Federal Government to protect jobs in the media sector by addressing the growing impact of global technology companies that use editorial content produced by Nigerian media organisations without compensation.
