President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, promised to review the tariffs imposed on newspapers and broadcasting materials in the country.
Mr Tinubu gave the assurance while hosting media groups such as the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), among others.
According to a statement issued by the president’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu vowed to make necessary reviews regarding media tariff as raised by the media stakeholders.
“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,” Mr Tinubu said.
He lauded media proprietors, editors and journalists for staying dedicated to their roles of informing and sensitising citizens about developments and happenings in the country, as well as for providing employment opportunities and livelihoods.
Stating that he is an ardent reader of all remarks and criticism from the media, the president noted that he welcomed all reactions about his administration’s performance without reservations.
Mr Tinubu tasked the media on the need to demand accountability, development and service from other tiers of government, noting that his administration has made more public funds available to the subnational governments.
Describing the task of leading Nigeria as uneasy, the president stated that his emergence and focus has been to make certain corrections that have previously put the nation on a brink.
Stating that Nigeria once owed airline ticket reimbursements, suffered galloping exchange rates and inflation, Mr Tinubu said his administration has been able to successfully reposition the country.
“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. But if anybody tells you it’s easy, it’s a lie. 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,” Mr Tinubu said.
“But having asked for the job and got it, I can’t look back other than to make corrections as I move along. We had to save the nation and bring it back from the brink.”
“Can you imagine a nation that owes airlines for ticket reimbursements and faces galloping exchange rates and inflation? Today, I can stand proudly before you and say that we are back from the brink,” he stated.
In his address, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the president’s reforms and assured him of the media’s confidence in his ability to effectively lead the country.
Mr Idris also charged media outlets and journalists to continue and responsibly hold the government at all levels to accountability.
The Grand Patron of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Olusegun Osoba, lauded the federal government for establishing the Nigeria Revenue Service and the National Single Window policy, which would increase the country’s revenue profile.
Seeking the federal government’s intervention, the president of the Nigerian Press Organisation and publisher of BusinessDay newspapers, Frank Aigbogun, demanded that the government should assist in protecting journalists and the media industry from big tech firms that use editorial content sourced from the Nigerian media without due compensation.
