Media Merit Award: 2 Journalists Win FIRS Tax Reporters Of the Year

Two journalists, Mr Laolu Afolabi of The Punch and Ms Yemisi Lanre-Idowu of LN247, have emerged winners of the 2025 Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) held in Lagos.

They were honoured as Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Tax Reporters of the Year, an award category sponsored by the Service, during the ceremony held on December 13, 2025.
Afolabi won with his report titled, “How Tinubu’s contentious tax bills widen North–South dichotomy, suppress fears” while Lanre-Idowu was recognised for her entry, “State vs National: The electricity tariff tangle.”

Speaking on the credibility of the selection process, the chairman of the NMMA Eminent Panel of Assessors, Mr Dele Adetiba, reaffirmed the panel’s commitment to fairness and transparency, noting that the contest was keenly contested.

According to him, about 800 entries were received this year and assessed across various categories by experts drawn from academia and seasoned media professionals.

“The entries were grouped based on the background and expertise of our assessors, ensuring a rigorous and balanced evaluation process,”
Adetiba explained.

At the event, the executive chairman of FIRS, Mr Zacch Adedeji, underscored the importance of credible, independent and professional journalism as a cornerstone of good governance and sustainable reform. Represented by the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms (PCFPTR), Mr Taiwo Oyedele, Adedeji described the media as critical to the successful implementation of recently enacted tax legislation.

In his keynote address, Adedeji warned that misinformation, weak reporting and public distrust could undermine even the most well-designed policies. “It is a pleasure to join you at the Nigeria Media Merit Award, a platform that has, for over three decades, recognised excellence, courage and professionalism in journalism,” he said. “Tonight, we celebrate the media not just as storytellers, but as one of the most powerful institutions driving societal progress.”

He added that the NMMA serves as a constant reminder of journalism’s foundational role in sustaining public confidence and accountability, stressing that Nigeria’s ongoing tax and fiscal reforms extend beyond laws and revenue targets to directly impact the social contract between the state and its citizens.

Also, the minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, represented by Mr Garba Kankarofi, emphasised the need for ethical journalism and a steadfast commitment to democratic values. He assured journalists of the Federal Government’s continued support for press freedom, stating that “the government will continue to support policies that guarantee a free press.”

On the significance of the awards, the chairman of the NMMA Board of Trustees, Prof. Dayo Duyile, described the initiative as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s media history.

“It has become a successful project in the history of Nigerian media. It is a fantastic idea, inspired by the British Media Awards, to highlight the best of the best,” he said.