Media Coverage and Framing of the 2025 Tax Reform Policy among Selected Television Channels in Nigeria

The 2025 Tax Reform Policy in Nigeria attracted widespread media attention and generated intense publicdebate across various segments of society. Preliminary observations following the implementation of thepolicy suggest that misinformation, misconceptions, and propaganda significantly influenced public per-ception and acceptance of the reforms, particularly among low-income earners who constitute a substantialproportion of the Nigerian population. Against this backdrop, this study examined the media coverage andframing of the 2025 Tax Reform Policy among selected television channels in Nigeria. Anchored on theFraming Theory, the study adopted the content analysis research method. A total of 26 news and currentaffairs videos were purposively selected from the YouTube platforms of selected television stations foranalysis. The study sought to identify the dominant themes in media coverage, examine the news framesemployed by the selected television stations, and assess how these frames shaped public understanding ofthe policy. Findings revealed two dominant thematic areas in the coverage of the policy, namely the businessand investment implications of the reforms and the tax burden on citizens. The study further identified thereform/development frame and the conflict frame as the predominant news frames adopted by the selectedtelevision stations. The study concludes that television broadcasters played a significant role in enhancingpublic awareness and understanding of the objectives, implications, and implementation mechanisms ofthe 2025 Tax Reform Policy. However, the prevalence of conflicting narratives and misinformation under-scores the need for more balanced, explanatory, and fact-based reporting of complex economic and fiscalpolicies. The study recommends that media organizations prioritize explanatory journalism and evidence-based reporting to reduce misinformation, improve public understanding, and strengthen public confidencein government policy communication.