… Editors Seek Policies, Tax Reliefs For Media Survival
By Helen Udofa
ABUJA
Nigerian editors from the print, broadcast and online media establishments have ended robust discussions during a two-day 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC 2025), which was organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Abuja to discuss the role of editors in democratic governance and national cohesion.
The first day of the Conference, themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors”, with Sub-theme: “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect In 2027”, which featured the Opening Ceremony and paper presentations on: “Election Disputes and Judiciary Integrity: Navigating the Thin Line Between Law and Politics,” by Professor Awa Kalu, as well as “State of the Nation: Imperative of Economic and Political Reforms in a Challenged Nation”, by Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, held at the Presidential Villa Banquet Hall, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who declared the Conference open, said that though the media had thoroughly dealt with him for removing oil subsidy, media remains the necessary instrument for national and democratic development.
Tinubu urged the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to uphold the highest standards of responsible journalism to strengthen democratic governance and promote national cohesion.
He commended the Guild for sustaining its tradition of reflection and professional engagement, describing the media as central to the preservation of democracy and national unity.
The President saw the theme of the conference, “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors”, as timely, and encouraged editors to use their influence to strengthen public trust and deepen civic responsibility.
Furthermore, he reminded journalists of their pivotal role in nation-building, saying the Nigerian press had historically defended truth and democracy even under repressive regimes and warned against the dangers of misinformation, especially in the age of social media, stressing that verification, balance and professional judgment must guide editorial decisions.
The keynote speaker and governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, described editors as catalysts and facilitators of the success or otherwise for the upcoming 2027 elections in Nigeria.
Uzodimma, who is also the chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, said that what the media will do or fail to do will help make or mar the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, noting that it is the media not INEC alone that is responsible for electoral integrity.
He therefore urged the media to lead citizens in developing trust in election outcomes in the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, maintained that the media has remained the engine of development, noting that the Federal Government has fostered an egalitarian media environment with over 1,000 licensed broadcasting stations operating freely across Nigeria without harassment or closure.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, no media house has been threatened, gagged, or shut down for expressing dissent. This reflects our conscious commitment to the constitutional principles of press freedom”, Idris said.
The information minister, therefore, urged editors to partner the federal government in telling the Nigerian story with truth, balance and optimism, adding that constructive criticism was vital to the nation’s renewal.
President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, informed the Federal Government that media in Nigeria is distressed due to high cost of operations and called for corporate tax relief for five to 10 years, Value-added tax (VAT) exemptions for media establishments and setting up of special transition fund for media organisations for access to low-interest loans to support the sustainability of the Nigerian media industry.
Anaba also called for a Digital Transition and Innovation Fund to promote multimedia storytelling, data journalism, and digital transformation while safeguarding editorial independence, stressing that the survival of the media as a business is vital to Nigeria’s democracy.
“The media industry is currently in distress, as many organisations can no longer pay salaries due to rising production costs.
“Without economic sustainability, our constitutional and social responsibilities become ineffective. Therefore, we seek legislative and executive support to make our businesses viable alongside our public duties,”Anaba stated.
The NGE president, while reinforcing the conference theme, emphasised that editors play a crucial role in shaping public opinion, promoting national unity, and strengthening democracy, and urged media practitioners to uphold truth, fairness, and patriotism in their work and to use their platforms as instruments of peace and progress.
The 21st ANEC was attended by top government officials, media moguls, veteran editors, and senior journalists from across the country, while other top dignitaries graced the event including Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III; former Governor of Ogun State, Armo Olusegun Osoba; former chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY and Arise News Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, who chaired the opening ceremony, amongst others.
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