The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, who also spoke at the dialogue, said President Tinubu was desirous of making life better for all Nigerians.
He said the nation’s economy was not entirely bleak despite some challenges.
He commended the Media Trust Group for doing so much good for the country.
“Even when we disagree, I personally feel they (Media Trust Group) sometimes take too much editorial liberty. But overall, I think Media Trust has done so much like other newspapers in this country. We need to congratulate them,” Malagi said.
He said he brought the glad tidings of Tinubu, noting that holding the dialogue indicates that the Nigerian press is indeed free.
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He said, “Without press freedom, we know that democracy will not thrive. Of course, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu didn’t institute that, but he has further strengthened it. There is nobody that has been gagged. There is no one that has been questioned about his expression in the Nigerian media space.
“As we always say, freedom of expression comes with enormous responsibility. You cannot have freedom and also not be responsible for that freedom. It is important that whatever we say, we say it truthfully, honestly, and responsibly. As minister of information, I have given a pledge to Nigerians that I am going to say it as honestly and as transparently as possible.”
The minister said that the Nigerian government was not desirous of gagging press freedom or putting press freedom under any fear.
He said, “Nigerian press is largely free, but like we keep saying, please report responsibly and honestly.
“Now I heard the chairman of Media Trust in his opening remarks said that the Nigerian government did not, beyond recommending a two-state solution to the crisis between Israel and Gaza and the Palestinians, actually condemn the killings.
“I think that is not factual. I was in Riyadh at the OIC conference on Gaza. I was there personally with the minister of foreign affairs representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigeria indeed condemned what was happening in Gaza and also advocated for a two-state solution as a way out of the crisis.
“Only a few days ago, Mr. Blinken was here. And the chairman of Media Trust again said we missed an opportunity to tell Secretary of State Blinken about the need to stop the carnage in Gaza. I think it happened. I was there also. The president clearly, unequivocally told Secretary of State Blinken about the need to stop the carnage in Gaza.
“Perhaps the communication is not so wide enough, but I must tell you the Nigerian government is actually in the forefront of ensuring that not only Gaza or Palestinians and Israelis have a two-state solution, but also insisting that the carnage and the destruction and the killing in Gaza will stop,” Malagi said.
He said the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always insisted on the humanity in all of us. “I think we should put that straight so that we don’t also miss this opportunity”.
Responding to NLC president, the minister said “The conversation around the wage award that it is not just that federal government has agreed to pay labour wage award, as there were a lot of other things that were discussed, and I know that the labour leader may say that they are not as fast enough as they discussed that day.
“The CNG buses, which we jointly signed and agreed upon, are already beginning to be implemented. The N35,000 wage award, I know that there were some disruptions, some typical disruptions in the way that they were implemented. But I can tell you that the president is committed to ensuring that every kobo meant for the wage award is paid to all entitled federal workers.
“The federal government has made a commitment. And I remember, and I know you do remember, Comrade, that on the 1st of October when the president made his broadcast, what he said was that he was going to give Nigeria N25,000.
“But we met in the evening of that day, and you insisted that you needed more than 25,000. We went back to the president after a short break with you, we went back to the president, the minister of finance was invited, the accountant was invited, the numbers were on, and the federal government agreed that it could do N35,000.
“So, within a few hours, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would listen to labour once again and make that increase, which you agreed upon.
“And we agreed with labour because the current regime of salary increase is going to come to an end around the end of March or early April. And the agreement was that let us have this wage award for six months, after which the federal government will now sit down with labour again to come up with a new federal minimum wage.
“And we know that the government is already putting together that committee and very soon, labour will be invited for a conversation around that. So it’s not all gloomy. It’s not all an emergency. Of course, if you have an immediate shock, it is important that you have a first aid kind of before a long-term solution is being proffered.
“And that is being done jointly with labour itself. It’s not only the federal government that is sitting in the room and providing the solution. At every turn, we invite Labour to come and sit down and look at the solutions.
I also want you, Comrade, that even when the federal government was making this wage or providing some of this so-called cushion or palliative, as you may call it, it didn’t just stop at the federal government level. Every state of the federation was involved because we know that that’s where the population is on the other side.
“And all the governors were invited. Today, you said it here that no state governor is not getting an addition of not less than 50 per cent of what he used to get. So let us also ask the governors, what are they also doing with those funds? It’s not only the federal government that should answer about that.
“The state governors are there. When the federal government gave immediate money for the purchase of grains, it didn’t do it itself. It handed it over to the state governors. Monies were given to them. And so the fertilisers were also bought.
“These are all done by the state governors. Now the approach of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that of inclusivity. And inclusion is involved, including labour. I know they will disagree, and disagreement is all part of the work and democracy. Disagree and come back to agree.
“But overall, it is important to know the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide support to Nigerians and to revamp this economy, to return Nigeria to the prosperity that all of us all desire.
“You will agree with me, it takes time. I’m not saying that seven months is a short time. “Seven months is not even enough for a woman to deliver after a course of labour. So, let’s give the federal government a chance. The president desires to make life better for Nigerians,” Malagi said.
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