President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) that his administration will give due consideration to their requests for fiscal incentives, legal protection, and policy support aimed at strengthening the media’s role in democracy and safeguarding press freedom.
Speaking at the opening of the 21st Nigerian Guild of Editors Annual Conference (ANEC) 2025, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, President Tinubu commended the editors for their unwavering commitment to democracy and national development. The conference, themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: Role of Editors,” brought together top media executives, governors, and government officials to deliberate on the future of journalism and governance in Nigeria.
President Tinubu acknowledged the Guild’s requests for government incentives, including tax reliefs and access to sustainable funding, assuring that his administration would evaluate them with a view to enhancing the media’s capacity to perform its constitutional duty.
“We will consider the Guild’s requests, including fiscal incentives, legal protection, and policy support to enhance your duties and safeguard press freedom,” the President said.
He praised the role of journalism in Nigeria’s democratic journey, describing it as a historic instrument of national awakening. He urged editors to continue reporting boldly and truthfully while balancing critique with fairness and professionalism.
“Report boldly, but do so truthfully. Critique government policy, but do so with knowledge and fairness. Your aim must never be to tear down, but to help build a better society,” Tinubu emphasized.
The President also reflected on the challenges of misinformation in the digital era, warning that the speed at which falsehood spreads could threaten national cohesion. He called on editors to remain vigilant in verifying facts and upholding ethical standards in journalism.
Tinubu acknowledged the security and economic challenges facing the nation but reaffirmed his administration’s determination to restore peace, progress, and prosperity. He urged the media, private sector, and civil society to collaborate with government in building a climate of unity and reason.
“Let us choose clarity over confusion, responsibility over recklessness, and hope over despair. The stories we tell ourselves as a nation influence the country we become,” he said.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who spoke at the event, hailed President Tinubu’s attendance as historic — the first time a sitting Nigerian president has personally attended an NGE conference. He noted that under the current administration, press freedom remains fully protected, with over a thousand broadcasting stations operating freely across the country.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, no media house has been threatened, gagged, or shut down for expressing dissent,” the minister stated.
NGE President Eze Anaba, in his remarks, called for the repeal of laws that restrict press freedom and the establishment of a Media Development Fund to support newsroom innovation and digital transformation.
“Editors must defend the sanctity of truth, insist on transparency, and hold power to account — not as adversaries of government, but as constructive partners in the pursuit of national progress,” Anaba said.
