President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday assured media practitioners that he will address the issue of tariffs on newspaper and broadcasting materials.
President Tinubu gave the promise at the State House, where he hosted the leadership of the Nigerian media, comprising members of the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Nigeria Guild of Editors, and Nigeria Union of Journalists, among others.
The President commended the media owners, editors and journalists for their commitment to informing, educating and keeping citizens abreast of developments, as well as providing employment and livelihoods for thousands of Nigerians.
President Tinubu said responsible leadership must take appropriate decisions at the right time, adding that anything to the contrary amounted to failure. He acknowledged the hard but critical decisions his administration had to take to save the nation from bankruptcy.
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.
“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 further stated.
On the requests for his intervention on tariffs affecting the media industry, President Tinubu said: “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.”
He commended the media for its constructive remarks and criticisms, adding that as an ardent reader of Nigerian newspapers, he accepted all in good faith since “all of us want the best for this nation.”
