NUJ Press Week: Delta Governor Pushes Fair Taxation and Ethical Media Engagement

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged journalists across the country to champion fair taxation and uphold responsible reporting as Nigeria navigates major economic reforms.

Speaking at the 2025 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, held at Orchid Hotel in Asaba, Governor Oborevwori said the media has a decisive role in shaping public understanding and ensuring accountability in the unfolding economic landscape.

The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu ,said that as Nigeria deepens tax reforms and pursues exchange rate unification, journalists must step up as interpreters of policy and watchdogs of public interest.

“You are the bridge between policy and the people,” he told journalists. “This is the time to educate citizens, monitor government policies, highlight stories of resilience, and combat misinformation.”

The governor described taxation as the lifeline of sustainable development, stressing that no government can meaningfully deliver infrastructure, healthcare, education, or security without strong and transparent tax systems.

He, however, warned against what he called “complex and burdensome tax structures” that stifle investment and discourage business growth. According to him, tax regimes must be fair, transparent, and designed to stimulate economic expansion—not hinder it.

Oborevwori reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to broadening the tax net, reducing leakages, and ensuring that every naira collected is reinvested into projects that improve citizens’ lives.

On Nigeria’s move toward exchange rate unification, the governor described the policy as a bold attempt to stabilize the naira and boost investor confidence. He admitted that the short-term impacts—particularly inflation—have been challenging for households and small businesses, but insisted the long-term advantages remain substantial.

“These reforms will bring stability, competitiveness, and fairness to the business environment,” he said.

He urged journalists to help citizens understand these transitions instead of amplifying fear or misinformation. Sensational or misleading reporting, he cautioned, could inflame tensions and undermine national confidence.

“With great influence comes a solemn responsibility,” he said, calling on media practitioners to uphold accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and patriotism in their work.

Oborevwori assured that the Delta State Government would continue to promote transparency and partner with the media by ensuring access to information.

“As we celebrate Press Week, let us remember that the pen, the microphone, and the camera are powerful instruments,” he said. “Used responsibly, they illuminate the path to economic stability, social justice, and national prosperity.”

Keynote Speaker, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, represented by Mr. Uzuazo Ikelegbe, highlighted tax reforms and exchange rate unification as pillars of President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda to stabilize the country.

Earlier, NUJ State Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, said the theme of the event was chosen to provoke intelligent discourse around reforms and reaffirm the media’s role as the watchdog and interpreter of public policy.