President Bola Tinubu has publicly backed the Nigeria Guild of Editors’ (NGE) call for corporate‑tax relief and a Value‑Added‑Tax exemption to ease the financial strain on the country’s media sector.
Speaking at the 21st All Nigeria Editors’ Conference in Abuja’s Presidential Villa Banquet Hall, Tinubu promised that his administration would give serious attention to the guild’s proposals for tax incentives, low‑interest loans and development grants aimed at helping news organisations thrive in the digital era.
“I have heard your requests—corporate‑tax relief, VAT exemption, affordable loans and development grants. I endorse them. Consider them in my pocket,” he told the gathered editors, prompting applause from senior journalists and media executives.
The President urged the press to carry out its duties with fairness, patriotism and a strong sense of national responsibility, warning that irresponsible or misleading reporting could endanger national unity and democratic progress.
He stressed that verification must be the anchor of journalism and balance its guiding principle, encouraging editors to criticize the government but to do so knowledgeably and constructively rather than destructively.
Reflecting on his administration’s early economic reforms, Tinubu acknowledged the difficulty of removing fuel subsidies and liberalizing foreign exchange, but said these steps were necessary to stabilise the economy, restore investor confidence and move the nation toward brighter days.
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