Tinubu urges media to hold states, LGs accountable like his administration

2026-03-13 - 21:17

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja President Bola Tinubu on Friday called on media executives to scrutinize state and local governments as rigorously as they monitor his administration. Speaking at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while hosting media proprietors, executives, and members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Tinubu highlighted that states and local governments now enjoy greater financial autonomy under his administration. “We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money. But how they use it is in your hands, so don’t bombard me alone. Look at local governments too, and equally, the sub-national,” he said. The President also claimed that no state in Nigeria is currently borrowing to pay workers’ salaries, attributing the development to reforms implemented by his government. “Yes, we can complain it’s not enough. We can complain we are not where we should be, but we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress,” Tinubu added. He praised the media for their relentless criticism, describing it as a driving force that challenged him to perform better despite harsh commentary during his early days in office. “Thank you for inspiring me and challenging me in critical moments of my life. You didn’t spare me, but you provoked the intellectual curiosity of a leader that must perform,” he said. Tinubu admitted to reading newspapers daily, calling it “an addiction,” and confessed that he was initially “a little stubborn” at the start of his administration due to intense media scrutiny. On policy decisions, including the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, the President defended his actions, saying tough choices were necessary to save Nigeria from economic collapse. “The problem is leadership with responsibility of taking decisions at the time it was to be done. Otherwise, it’s a failure. At the time, we had to confront the subsidy. Nigeria was on the edge of bankruptcy,” he said. He insisted that critics should not be seen as enemies but as contributors to nation-building, noting that their feedback reflects concern for the country’s welfare. “I accept the asset and liability of my policies because I asked for the job and it was given to me. So I have to do it,” Tinubu stated. Addressing challenges facing media organizations, particularly funding and tariffs, the President assured that the government would take necessary action to support the sector. He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to national development and called for collective responsibility among leaders, media, and citizens. “It is all in our hands. It’s a collective responsibility, you, myself, and those people that we assign,” he said.