Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to protecting press freedom and advancing the welfare of journalists in Nigeria, describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a longstanding ally of the media.
Speaking on Wednesday when he received the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima said the government recognizes the crucial role of the media in sustaining democracy and promoting accountability.
“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,” 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 lifeline of the nation — we can’t afford to muzzle you.”
Shettima likened the responsibilities of journalists to those of the judiciary, noting that both are essential to ensuring transparency and justice in governance.
He added that democracy cannot thrive without a free and vibrant press, stressing that past national leaders such as Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Obafemi Awolowo were journalists before becoming political figures.
Acknowledging the challenges facing the media industry, particularly the struggle of some outlets to meet salary obligations, Shettima assured the NUJ that President Tinubu would consider measures to support the profession.
“Be rest assured that the President will render his support to your organization. We cannot afford to allow the journalism profession to die,” he said.
