President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigeria’s media organisations to intensify scrutiny of how state and local governments spend increased public funds, saying greater financial allocations must translate into visible development at the grassroots.

The President made the appeal on Thursday at the State House in Abuja while hosting leaders of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria during an interfaith breaking of fast.

Tinubu said recent fiscal and governance reforms have increased the financial resources available to subnational governments, creating what he described as an opportunity for development projects and improved public services at the community level.

According to the President, while the federal government is often the focus of public criticism, journalists should also closely monitor the activities of state administrations and local councils to ensure public funds are used effectively.

He noted that with improved fiscal space, many states now have greater capacity to meet obligations such as salary payments, adding that accountability across all tiers of government is necessary for the country’s federal structure to function properly.

During the meeting, the President also acknowledged the economic pressures facing media organisations and promised to look into concerns about import tariffs on materials used by newspaper and broadcasting companies.

Government officials present at the event reiterated the administration’s commitment to press freedom and engagement with the media, while industry leaders urged stronger protections for Nigeria’s media sector, particularly as global technology companies increasingly influence the distribution and use of news content.