Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a steadfast ally of the media and is committed to protecting press freedom while advancing the journalism profession in Nigeria.

Shettima said President Tinubu has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for the media and would not deviate from his long-standing record of upholding the integrity and independence of journalism.

The Vice President gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received the NUJ leadership on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He observed that both the government and the public place enormous responsibility on journalists, describing the profession as one that stands almost at par with the judiciary.

Hr said, “Journalists are expected to hold public officials accountable and serve as impartial arbiters on issues of governance. 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. 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 lifewire of the nation, we can’t afford to muzzle you.”

Describing the media as the conscience of the nation, Shettima emphasised that democracy cannot thrive without a free and vibrant press.

“Past generations of Nigerian leaders, from Herbert Macaulay to Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo, were journalists before they became political leaders,” he added.

The Vice President acknowledged the economic challenges confronting the media, including the difficulty many organisations face in meeting salary obligations, and pledged that President Tinubu would continue to support efforts to sustain the profession.

“Be assured that the President will render his support to your organisation. We cannot afford to allow the journalism profession to die,” he said.

Shettima also explained that President Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies was made in the national interest as part of a broader economic reform aimed at repositioning the country for shared prosperity.

Earlier, NUJ President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, urged the Vice President to use his office to defend press freedom and ensure journalists are not punished for carrying out their constitutional duties.

He called for a comprehensive review of colonial-era laws that continue to criminalise journalism, particularly sections of the Criminal and Penal Codes, and advocated for the decriminalisation of libel.

Among other demands, the NUJ sought the establishment of a National Safety Protocol for Journalists in collaboration with security agencies to guarantee the safety of reporters in the line of duty.

The Union also proposed the creation of a Media Support Framework, which would include training grants, soft loans, tax reliefs, and targeted bailouts for struggling media houses.

Additionally, Abdullahi called for partnerships between the government, TETFund, universities, and international journalism institutes to enhance training standards and the establishment of a Permanent Government, Media Liaison Platform under the Office of the Vice President to promote regular engagement, clarify policies, and curb misinformation.

While pledging the NUJ’s support for President Tinubu’s development agenda, Abdullahi maintained that the media would continue to speak truth to power in defence of democracy.

“We are institutional partners and would not be drowned in the false narrative that the media must be antagonistic to government. The same way we call out government when necessary, we will also applaud it when things are done right,” he stated.

He commended the Tinubu administration for its bold reforms and resilience in navigating global economic headwinds, noting that within three years, the government has taken decisive steps to stabilise the economy and restore investor confidence.