Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria writes Nigerian government alleges draconian actions against stations by national broadcasting commission

The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) has written to the Nigerian Government on urgent need to call the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to order alleging that the commission has continued to display flagrant violation of Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

Penpushing reports that Executive Secretary of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Dr Yemisi Bamgbose made the call in a letter dated April 3, 2023 which was addressed to Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed.

‘The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) extends its warmth regards to the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture. We are constrained with recent developments to request the Minister to call the National Broadcasting Commission to order as it continues to display flagrant violation of Nigerian Broadcasting Code’, the letter reads.

Penpushing further reports that the letter noted that in the recent times, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has refused to follow its rules as stipulated in the code on investigation of infractions as well as imposition of fines on broadcast houses on alleged infractions.

The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) argued that Section 14.3.1(a) (b) (c) (d) stipulates how to hand complaints, while Section 15.3.1 (a) (b) (c) stipulates categories of fines and what constitute infractions in each category.

‘In the recent times, NBC provides no opportunity to the broadcaster to see the complaints against it not to talk of allowing any form of explanation nor following due process at arriving judgements. This was the situation of all multiple allegations of “severe” infractions levied against Channels Television, Daar Communications, Arise TV and Daily Trust Television among many others’.

‘The recent case was the imposition of N5m fine on Channels Television on alleged “severe ” infraction committed during a live interview programme titled Politics Today which featured Mr Datti Baba Ahmed, the Vice Presidential candidate of Labour Party and professionally anchored by Mr Seun Okinbaloye in its episode of Wednesday 22nd March, 2023’.

Penpushing also reports that Bamgbose noted that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as usual imposed a fine of N5million for alleged “severe” infraction that was never substantiated nor stated the area of code violated by the station.

‘We found it very absurd that, NBC as a regulator, could on a petition from a campaign organisation of a political party imposed illegal fines on broadcast station without employing all avenues to investigate the complaint nor gave room for defence from the station so accused’.

‘The Honourable Minister, Sir, the attitude of NBC towards broadcast stations in the recent past are not only arbitrary but smacks of high handedness which is almost suffocating the broadcast media in the country’, the letter emphasised.

‘It is saddened and regrettable to report that broadcast stations in particular and broadcast professionals in general unlike in the past no longer trust the professional judgement of the National Broadcasting Commission when it comes to allegations of infractions and imposition of fines’.

‘It is in the light of the above and for many other reasons that we are passionately calling on the Hon Minister of Information and Culture as the supervising Minister to urgently call NBC to order in other to avoid total decimation of the hitherto respected regulatory body’.

‘I would like to reiterate once again, that, BON is not in any way averse to discipline of erring stations. What we are advocating is following of due process as jointly agreed by all stakeholders. While appreciating  the  effort of Hon Minister at moving the broadcast industry forward, kindly accept the assurances of our highest esteem and regards at all times’, Bamgbose wrote.

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