The federal government has guaranteed absolute media freedom to practitioners but wants them to be truthful and responsible in their work.

Information minister Mohammed Idris said this during his remark at the 21st annual Daily Trust Dialogue on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Idris said, “I want to commend President Bola Tinubu. The fact that we are having this conversation here indicates that the Nigerian press is indeed free. Without press freedom, democracy will not strive, and of course, Tinubu understands that and that is why since assumption to office nobody has been gagged or questioned about their media spaces.

“And like I always say, press freedom or freedom of expression most times should not make you irresponsible. You cannot have freedom and not be responsible.”

The minister added, “It is important that whatever and whenever we report, we should say it truthfully, honestly and transparently. As a minister of information, I am telling Nigerians that I am going to say it as honestly and transparently as possible.

“The Nigerian government is not desirous of gagging press freedom or putting any press under fear. The Nigerian press is largely free, but we must report responsibly and honestly.”

According to him, claims that Nigeria did not condemn the war between Israel and Hamas happening in Gaza is not correct, adding that it is not a factual reality.

According to the minister, he and other government officials attended the IOC conference on Gaza, where Nigeria condemned in totality what is currently happening in Gaza.

He added that even when the envoy from the U.S. visited Nigeria some days ago, Mr Tinubu reiterated his call to stop the carnage in Gaza and have a two-state solution.

Mr Idris explained how the federal government and labour unions resolved and agreed on the N35,000 palliative over removing the fuel subsidy.

(NAN)