President Bola Tinubu has approved the Nigeria Guild of Editors’ (NGE) requests intended to rescue the struggling media sector.
In his address at the Guild’s annual conference held at the State House, Abuja, the President also tasked the editors with exercising their gate-keeping role responsibly, emphasizing that fair and patriotic reporting is essential to prevent misinformation from undermining national unity and democracy.
Persecondnews had reported that NGE President Eze Anaba, in his address of welcome, alerted the President that the current economic situation had placed the media in distress.
As a result, he urged the government to provide corporate tax relief for approximately ten years, VAT exemption, tax deductions, and access to affordable financing for the industry.
Opening the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference, Tinubu, in his response to the Guild’s requests, said: “I have listened to the request of President) of the Guild – corporate tax relief, VAT exemption for media, tax break, affordable loans from BoI (Bank of Industry), establishment of development grants for digitisation, repeal laws that inhibit press freedom, discuss it now.
“You know, I, as your President, endorse your proposal. Media and safety data will be out soon. Your request is in my pocket,” he said jokingly.
Tinubu urged Nigerian editors to exercise their watchdog role with fairness and patriotism, saying criticism of government must not come at the expense of national unity or the country’s global image.
He also urged the editors to exercise their gate-keeping role with patriotism and fairness, warning that irresponsible reporting and misinformation could undermine national cohesion and democratic stability.
The President said he acknowledged the media’s historic role in national awakening and democratic resistance, but cautioned that cynicism and unverified claims now posed significant threats to national unity.
Tinubu recalled the outrage that greeted his early economic reforms, particularly foreign exchange liberalisation and removal of arbitrage, but maintained that the policies were necessary to curb corruption and lay the foundation for long-term economic recovery.
“When I assumed office and removed the arbitrage to stop corruption and strengthen the economy, you all dealt with me but today, we should celebrate that progress is being made. The days of darkness are ending; the economy is on the path to improvement.”
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring macroeconomic stability, attracting investment, and improving citizens’ well-being, even as the reforms remained demanding.
Tinubu applauded the Nigerian media’s courage during the military era, honouring journalists who endured intimidation, detention and hardship in defence of national ideals.
“Journalism in Nigeria has been more than a profession, it has been an instrument of national awakening. Their sacrifices form part of the foundation upon which our democracy rests,” he said.
The President, however, reminded editors that their decisions shaped national mood and perception, especially in an age where social media had quickened the spread of misinformation.
He said: “Verification must be your anchor. Balance must be your principle. Criticise government policy, but do so with knowledge and fairness. Let your aim be to help build, not destroy.”
While noting that dissent was natural in a diverse country, Tinubu warned that disagreement must never erode national cohesion.
“Debate is part of our reality, but disagreement must never translate into weakening national unity. The national interest must be paramount,’’ he added.
On national security, the President acknowledged threats from terrorism and banditry but expressed confidence in ongoing efforts by security forces to check them.
“We are challenged by terrorism and banditry, but our forces are inspired. They put their lives on the line to defend our sovereignty.”
Tinubu urged editors to remain conscious of how they portrayed Nigeria to the global community, saying “this is our country, how we project Nigeria to the outside world matters.
“Let us choose clarity over confusion, responsibility over recklessness, and hope over despair.”
Anaba had raised concerns about the worsening financial state of the Nigerian media, warning that many organisations were on the brink of collapse due to soaring operational costs.
He noted that the price of a ton of newsprint had risen to between N1.3 million and N1.4 million, lasting only a few days.
According to him, this is a trend that has left newsrooms overwhelmed by rising production expenses.
“The media today is distressed. Many organisations simply cannot pay salaries, not because they are incompetent, but because the cost of production has become prohibitive,” he said.
Anaba warned that the inability of media houses to retain journalists was a threat to democratic accountability.
“If the media cannot keep journalists employed, it cannot inform citizens; and without an informed citizenry, democracy is weakened,’’ he noted.
The Guild put forward several proposals designed to stabilize the industry, specifically calling for financial lifelines such as five-to-ten-year corporate tax relief and VAT exemptions on vital inputs.
Additionally, they sought to boost revenue by proposing tax credits for corporations that advertise with verified Nigerian media, while advocating for low-interest loan windows through the Bank of Industry and Development Bank of Nigeria to facilitate necessary equipment upgrades and the transition to digital platforms.
It also called for a Media Innovation Fund to support online platforms, data journalism and multimedia storytelling.
Anaba stressed that the proposed interventions were not acts of patronage but safeguards for democracy.
“When the press thrives, democracy breathes. When the press is stifled, democracy suffocates,” he said, urging the federal government to act swiftly.
The keynote speaker and Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma reminded the editors the words of Stephen Ward, a leading scholar of journalism ethics, who stated that “journalism objectivity is both an epistemic and an ethical principle.”
He said objectivity was not simply neutrality and not the mechanical transcription of events as if such transcription were even possible.
He also said editors would not be bystanders in the 2027 elections but catalysts whose narratives would shape the nation’s democratic future.
The governor said editors wielded immense influence in shaping national perception and must be accountable for the narratives they promote, particularly during election seasons.
“You are not spectators in 2027; you are catalysts. The narratives you shape will determine whether Nigerians see the elections through a tribal lens or a shared national destiny,” he said.
Information Minister Mr. Mohammed Idris praised President Tinubu’s attendance at the NGE conference, noting its historic significance as the first by a sitting President and calling it a “profound acknowledgment of the fourth estate.”
Idris then compared the President’s political resilience, recalling his resistance to federal pressure while serving as Lagos Governor, to the perseverance of the Nigerian press.
“Like the press under military dictatorship, President Tinubu resisted oppression. He understands that an independent media is not a foe of government but the foundation of a lasting democracy.”
He assured the editors that requests for media tax exemptions would be addressed in due course, though he noted that the modernized tax regime’s primary focus is strengthening infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
The minister then affirmed the administration’s commitment to press freedom, stating that no broadcast station has been shut down for critical reporting and citing Nigeria’s hosting of the global Media and Information Literacy Institute (granted by UNESCO) as evidence of support.
He concluded by urging editors to partner in national renewal through responsible reporting, “The best editor is the one who knows what not to publish. Let us tell the Nigerian story with balance, truth, and an unshakable belief in our future.”
“The fourth estate has remained constant. Let it continue to stand strong in defence of the people.”
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