Nigerian Editors Must Champion Accountability, Says NACCIMA President

Dele Oye, National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has issued a clarion call for Nigerian editors to intensify their role as vigilant government watchdogs. Addressing the 2024 All Nigerian Editors Conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Oye highlighted the essential part the media must play in ensuring that recent economic reforms deliver genuine benefits for the Nigerian people.

Lauding President Bola Tinubu’s administration for bold steps such as the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate unification, and a rise in the national minimum wage, Oye stressed that these measures, while promising, need rigorous oversight. “The media must hold the government accountable,” he urged, asserting that scrutiny would deter waste and mismanagement, which too often stymie economic progress.

While acknowledging gains in foreign investment, oil production, and government revenue under Tinubu’s policies, Oye noted that the benefits remain unevenly felt, with 56% of Nigerians still living below the poverty line. He pointed to inefficient resource management in sectors like oil and gas as an area where media intervention could help drive reform. Recent reports on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s crude-for-loan deals, worth billions, underscore the urgent need for transparency, he said, calling for the media to hold the government to account on resource-backed loans.

Oye also took aim at high interest rates set by the Central Bank, which, he argued, are throttling business growth. “Banks are investing in bonds rather than supporting businesses,” he noted, warning of the stifling effect on entrepreneurship.

To sustain Nigeria’s growth trajectory, Oye urged media outlets to invest in investigative journalism and deep-dive reporting, positioning themselves to attract sponsors and expand internationally. He challenged the Nigerian Guild of Editors to restore public trust, underscoring the vital role of transparency in economic stability.

“The power to transform lies within our collective hands as we embark on this journey of economic revival,” he concluded, calling on editors to act in the public’s interest as agents of constructive change.