Tinubu Urges Media Leaders to Apply Same Scrutiny to States and Local Governments as They Do to Him

President Bola Tinubu emphasized that the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war is having a profound impact on key economic sectors, a concern he expressed while meeting with media executives at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. This gathering included representatives from the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Guild of Editors.

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During the meeting, President Tinubu urged the media executives to extend their scrutiny beyond his administration, also examining the actions of state and local governments, which now enjoy greater financial autonomy under his leadership.

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The President noted that local governments are currently receiving their funds directly, and it is up to the media to ensure they are being used effectively, rather than solely focusing on the federal government's actions.

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President Tinubu highlighted a significant achievement of his administration, stating that no state in Nigeria is currently borrowing money to pay workers' salaries, a development made possible by reforms implemented by his government.

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He acknowledged that while there may be room for improvement, the current situation is an improvement over the past, where states often struggled to pay salaries, and his administration is working to manage resources effectively to sustain progress.

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Historically, the 36 states have faced challenges in paying salaries, frequently relying on bailouts and loans from the Federal Government, particularly during periods of low oil revenue and economic downturns.

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The Tinubu administration has increased allocations to states and local governments through various means, including higher crude oil production and improved revenue collection by the National Revenue Service, as well as direct payment of local government allocations following a Supreme Court judgment in July 2024.

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President Tinubu expressed his appreciation for the media's relentless criticism, which he believes has motivated him to perform better, despite the harsh commentary he faced during his early days in office.

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The President acknowledged that the media's challenges and criticisms have inspired him to work harder, stating that if he had focused solely on the negative comments, he may not have been able to achieve his goals.

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President Tinubu confessed to having a daily habit of reading all the newspapers, describing it as an "addiction" that he cannot start his day without, describing how he reads through them, even if not in full detail.