President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that the hard but critical decisions taken by his administration to reform the economy were necessary to save the nation from bankruptcy.
This is just as he pledged to address the high tariffs on newspaper and broadcasting materials to empower the media industry to discharge its constitutional role effectively.
The President spoke on Friday while playing host to the leadership of the Nigerian media, comprising members of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors, and Nigerian Union of Journalists, among others.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu, said that responsible leadership must take appropriate decisions at the right time, to prevent monumental failures.
“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.
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.
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.”
President Tinubu called on the media to also demand accountability, development and service from other tiers of government, as federal government reform policies have made more funds available to the federating units.
Also speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed confidence in the President’s strength of character, resilience, and visionary leadership, assuring him that the Nigerian media have high expectations for his administration’s ability to steer the nation toward lasting progress.
The Minister charged media practitioners to continue to discharge their constitutional role with responsibility while holding the government at all levels accountable to the people.
