President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Eze Anaba, has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to introduce policies that safeguard press freedom and ensure the economic survival of the Nigerian media, describing journalism as a public good deserving of fiscal incentives, legal protection, and developmental support.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 21st All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) in Abuja, declared open by President Tinubu, Mr. Anaba said the Nigerian media’s ability to hold government accountable and promote democracy depended not only on its freedom but also on its financial stability.
“Without economic sustainability, our constitutional and social responsibilities become ineffectual,” Anaba warned, adding that the media could not perform its watchdog role if it collapses under financial distress.
Anaba noted that Nigeria’s democracy, though resilient, was under pressure from insecurity, economic hardship, misinformation, and declining public trust in institutions and government officials’ intolerance, sometimes, to freedom of the press.
“Editors must defend the sanctity of truth, insist on transparency, and hold power to account, not as adversaries of government, but as constructive partners in the pursuit of national progress,” he said.
He stressed that editors, as custodians of public information, must use their platforms to promote unity and understanding rather than division.
“The pen must never become an instrument of hate, but a tool for healing and bridge-building,” Anaba emphasised.
Anaba proposed a five-point agenda to ensure the sustainability of Nigerian journalism, including corporate tax relief for media houses for 5 to 10 years, VAT exemption on media tools and inputs, tax incentives for companies advertising in Nigerian media outlets, low-interest financing through the Bank of Industry or Development Bank of Nigeria, and the creation of a Media Development Fund to support digital innovation and data journalism, to be managed independently of government interference.
He also called for the repeal of laws restricting press freedom and the establishment of a Media Freedom and Safety Charter, endorsed by the Presidency and Legislature, to protect journalists from arbitrary arrests and misuse of cybercrime laws.
Anaba appealed to President Tinubu to see the media as a partner in progress, not an adversary, stressing that a free and responsible press was essential for national development and stability.
“When the press thrives, democracy breathes. When it is stifled, democracy suffocates,” he declared to a loud applause.
He urged editors to broaden their coverage to include Nigeria’s rural and conflict-prone areas, noting that most news remained urban-centred.
“Development of rural communities is key to national growth. We must bring the underserved into our daily narrative,” he said.
Reflecting on the Guild’s legacy, Anaba paid tribute to pioneers of the All Nigerian Editors Conference, including Malam Baba Dantiye, who initiated the first ANEC in 2004, and media icons such as Uncle Sam Amuka, Aremo Segun Osoba, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, and Dr. John Momoh.
He reminded editors that their influence extended far beyond newsrooms, shaping public perception, democracy, and unity.
“Our decisions, what we publish, how we frame stories, and whose voices we amplify, determine how Nigerians see their country,” he said.
Anaba reiterated the Guild’s commitment to ethical journalism, professional development, and the defence of press freedom.
He urged editors to ask difficult questions about how they could contribute to credible elections, peace-building, and inclusive governance while adapting to digital transformation without compromising integrity.
“This conference must generate practical ideas, ideas that guide policy, rebuild public trust, and fortify our democracy,” he concluded.
The conference, themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” brought together editors, publishers, policy leaders, and industry stakeholders from across Nigeria to examine the state of the nation and the challenges facing journalism in a changing political and technological landscape.
The 21st ANEC continues through November 14 in Abuja, bringing together the nation’s leading editors, policymakers, and media experts under one mission to strengthen democracy through a free, responsible, and economically viable press.