President Bola Tinubu has called on media leaders to hold state and local governments to the same rigorous standards as the presidency, noting that these tiers of government now wield greater financial independence through his federalist reforms.
The President made this appeal on Friday night during an Iftar dinner at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
The event, which marked the final Iftar of the 2026 Ramadan season, brought together top executives from across the print, broadcast, and digital media landscapes.
“We have opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money. But how they use it is in your hand, so don’t bombard me alone.
“Look at local government too, and equally, the sub-national,” Tinubu said.
President Tinubu asserted that no state currently relies on loans to meet payroll obligations, creditng this shift to the economic reforms introduced by his administration.
“Today, there is no state that is borrowing to pay salaries of employees. Yes, we can complain it’s not enough.
“We can complain we are not where we should be, but we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress,” he said.
While states have traditionally been plagued by wage backlogs and a dependence on federal loans, the landscape shifted following several key reforms.
The Tinubu administration attributes the newfound financial stability to increased revenue transparency and the 2024 Supreme Court verdict, which bypassed state interference by sending funds directly to local governments.
This, alongside a more robust National Revenue Service (formerly the FIRS), has reportedly ended the era of “borrowing to pay.”
Tinubu thanked media proprietors for their relentless criticism, which he said challenged him to perform better despite the harsh commentary during his early days in office.
“Thank you for inspiring me and challenging me in critical moments of my life. If I look at various barrages of negative comments as opposed to positive aspects of the assignment, I shouldn’t be here standing. That is the truth.
“You didn’t spare me, but you challenged me, provoked that intellectual curiosity of a leader that must perform.”
The President confessed that he reads all newspapers daily, describing it as “an addiction.”
“There is no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you, might not be in full detail, but the headline, the one that hit me,” he added.
Tinubu admitted that he was initially “a little stubborn” at the beginning of his administration due to the barrage of criticism from newspapers and opinion leaders.
“I was just initially at the beginning of this administration a little stubborn because the hit was on from the papers and from various opinion leaders in this country.”
However, he defended his decision-making process, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy, which drew widespread criticism when implemented in May 2023.
The President said: “The problem is leadership with responsibility of taking decisions at the time it was to be done. Otherwise, it’s a failure. At the time, we had to confront the subsidy. Nigeria was cheating on the edge of bankruptcy.
“But having asked for the job and getting it, I couldn’t look back other than make corrections as I move along, save the nation, bring it back from the brink.”
The President insisted that the country had been pulled back from economic collapse, citing improvements in foreign exchange management and inflation control.
“Today, I can stand proudly before you that we are back from that brink. Can you imagine a nation that only the airline for reimbursement of their tickets had galloping exchange rates, galloping inflation?” he asked.
Tinubu dismissed the notion of categorising critics as enemies, instead describing them as contributors to nation-building.
He noted, “I don’t categorise anybody as arch-critical. I see them as simulators who can build a nation.
“We all want good for this country. There is no doubt about that. So, no matter how critical an opinion is or on the edge of it, they want the goodness of the country.”
The President accepted full responsibility for the outcomes of his policies, noting that he sought the mandate and must deliver results.
Tinubu also acknowledged the challenging operating environment for media organisations, particularly regarding funding sources during difficult economic times.
“I know you are challenged. It’s very tough out there. Source and application of funds is almost impossible to acquire in a time of challenges, and you’ve seen it carefully that no one of us is insulated as a member of this world community.
“What is happening in the Middle East or anywhere else will affect us. It will definitely affect us,” he said.
The President disclosed that tariffs affecting the media industry were discussed on Friday afternoon but promised to take action on the matter as it concerned the media.
“The question of tariff was discussed this afternoon. What I cannot report back here is whether I took action in the area that affected you or not, but if I missed that, I’ll go back to rectify,” he stated.
Commending the media for evolving through recent challenges, the President promised to stay the course of national reform.
He described the task of rebuilding Nigeria as a “collective responsibility” shared by the government, the press, and public officials.
“I will continue to do this job with patriotic dedication,” Tinubu assured the executives, calling for a unified effort to improve the country.
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