Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a steadfast ally of the Nigerian media and will continue to uphold journalists’ rights and freedom in the country.
Addressing the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the State House, Abuja, Shettima said the Tinubu administration recognises the media as “the lifewire of the nation” and a vital pillar for the survival of democracy.
“In President Bola Tinubu, you have a friend, an ally, and a proprietor who has been kind to the Nigerian media over the years,” the Vice President said. “I want to assure you that this administration will do its best to promote, project, and preserve the interests of the journalism profession. You are the lifewire of the nation — we can’t afford to muzzle you.”
He described journalists as the conscience of society, stressing that their constitutional role in holding government accountable places them on almost the same level of responsibility as the judiciary.
“Journalists are expected to hold public officials accountable and adjudicate on issues of governance,” he noted, adding that the media “cannot be intimidated or silenced in a democracy that values truth and transparency.”
Shettima, who promised to table the NUJ’s demands before President Tinubu, acknowledged that the media industry faces daunting challenges but assured that the administration remains committed to its growth and protection.
“Be rest assured that the President will render his support to your organisation,” he added. “We cannot afford to allow the journalism profession to die.”
He also used the occasion to defend the government’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, saying the decision was taken in the national interest to reposition the economy and create long-term benefits for citizens.
Earlier, NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, had presented key demands to the Vice President, including the protection of journalists, review of outdated libel laws, and decriminalisation of sections of the Criminal and Penal Codes affecting the media.
Abdullahi urged the government to “take a firm stance in defending press freedom and ensuring that journalists are not punished for doing their constitutional duty.”
He called for a national safety protocol for reporters, training grants, soft loans, tax reliefs, and a targeted bailout package for struggling media institutions. The NUJ leader also proposed the creation of a permanent Government–Media Liaison Platform under the Vice President’s office to enhance communication and reduce misinformation.
Abdullahi, however, reaffirmed the media’s role as a constructive partner in nation-building, saying, “We are institutional partners and would not be drowned in the false narratives that the media must be antagonistic to government. The same way we call out government when we feel that certain issues are not clearly given the needed consideration, we also would be ready to applaud government when things have been done right.”
He commended the Tinubu administration for what he described as “tangible efforts and firm support in key areas of national development,” noting that the government has demonstrated boldness in tackling economic challenges within a short time.
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