President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has assured Nigerians that he remains deeply concerned about the welfare of citizens, revealing that he reads newspapers every morning to stay informed about happenings across the country.
The President made the remark during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Tinubu, reviewing newspapers each morning has become a daily habit that keeps him updated on national issues and public concerns.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you,” the President said.
“It might not be in full detail, but the headlines; the ones that hit me and the ones that won’t.”
Tinubu Reflects on Early Days of Administration
Tinubu admitted that at the beginning of his administration he maintained a firm approach in pursuing reforms aimed at correcting long-standing challenges in the country.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life easier for the downtrodden,” he said.
The President also emphasised that improving the country should not be seen as the sole responsibility of the Federal Government, urging the media to hold state and local governments accountable as well.
He noted that the principles of true federalism have been strengthened under his administration, particularly with increased financial autonomy for local governments.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money. But how they use it is in your hands,” Tinubu said.
“So don’t bombard me alone; look at the local government too.”
Tinubu urged the media to extend the same level of scrutiny they apply to the federal government to state and local administrations, stressing that accountability must exist at every level of governance.
The President also stated that improvements in government finances have reduced the need for states to borrow funds to pay workers’ salaries.
“Today, there is no state that is borrowing to pay the salaries of employees,” he told the gathering.
The former governor of Lagos State reaffirmed his commitment to serving the nation with dedication and patriotism.
“And I promise you, the job that I continue to do is dedication, patriotic dedication to improve Nigeria. It’s all in our hands; it’s a collective responsibility,” Tinubu said.
