Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured journalists that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a steadfast ally of the Nigerian media and will continue to protect press freedom and uphold the integrity of the journalism profession.
Shettima gave the assurance on Wednesday while hosting the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Vice President noted that President Tinubu has a long-standing relationship with the media, dating back to his days as a pro-democracy advocate, and will not depart from his commitment to defending journalists’ rights.
“In President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you have a friend, an ally, and a proprietor who has been kind to the Nigerian media over the years,” Shettima said. “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.”
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Describing journalists as the conscience of the nation, Shettima emphasized that democracy cannot thrive without a free and responsible press. He also likened the role of journalists to that of the judiciary, saying both are essential for holding leaders accountable and upholding justice in society.
The Vice President pledged to table the NUJ’s demands before President Tinubu, including the call for enhanced protection of journalists, review of colonial-era libel laws, and decriminalization of defamation.
Earlier, NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, urged the government to take stronger action in safeguarding press freedom and ensuring journalists are not punished for carrying out their constitutional duties.
He called for a review of sections of the Criminal and Penal Codes that criminalize journalism and advocated the establishment of a national safety protocol for reporters, in collaboration with security agencies.
Abdullahi also appealed for government support through training grants, tax relief, soft loans, and targeted bailouts for struggling media organizations. He further proposed a permanent media-government liaison platform under the Office of the Vice President to foster consistent communication and combat misinformation.
While pledging the Union’s support for the administration’s development agenda, Abdullahi reaffirmed that the press would continue to speak truth to power and promote accountability as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy.