For the records: Communique issued at the end of the General Assembly and Annual General Meeting of Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria held at Transcorp Hotel Abuja on Thursday 12th October,2023

The General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria the forum for owners and Chief Executive Officers of Broadcast media houses in Nigeria held its 78th General Assembly and 22nd Annual General meeting on Thursday 12th October, 2023 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. 

OPENING:

Declaring the General Assembly open, the Honorable Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi assured delegates of his readiness of ensuring the full implementation of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) in the country as a matter of priority adding that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the Digital Broadcasting transformation in the world.

On the sell of spectrum, the Minister said he was still studying and investigating the issue to know what has been done before he can make any public pronouncement on the purported sell of the spectrum. 

Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi Promised Broadcasters that he will do everything possible to reduce the burden faced by broadcasters in the country. He said as Minister, he will work towards restoring trust in Public Communication by always telling Nigerians the truth.

The Minister of state for Environment Dr, Adekunle Salako in his address at the General Assembly Titled ‘’Effects of Climate Change – Role of the Media” the Minister called on the Media to create awareness and disseminate correct information on climate change. He said Extreme weather conditions were already in Nigeria with the country being among the top ten vulnerable countries with climate change urging broadcasters to raise Public awareness on these critical weather conditions.

Dr Salako who called for accurate information decimination on weather conditions, also stated that synergy amongst stake holders will go a long way in mitigating and helping in educating the public on excessive weather conditions through awareness. In his speech, the outgoing chairman of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria Mr. John Ugbe said one of his teams’ key campaign promises in 2021 was fulfilled with the revival the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB) which was successfully done with one thousand members out of which four hundred have been inducted.

He said another mile stone was the passage of the Bill for the establishment of the council of Broadcasters which was passed by the 9th National Assembly and would be looked at by the 10th Assembly before submitting it to the President for accent.

Mr. John Ugbe said BON under his leadership was able to clear the SNB debts with corporate Affairs Commission, organize the maiden edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Awards amongst others.

According to him the successes recorded under his leadership also included training and re-training of staff of member Stations with master classes for members in the last two years.

In his welcoming address the Executive Secretary of BON Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose said the General Assembly will discuss the issues of spectrum allocation digitization and hard economic environment for Radio and Television Stations in Nigeria. He called on the government to ensure the advancement of the media in the country instead of strangulating it.

The Executive Secretary laments the state of television broadcasting in Nigeria which has remained permanently stagnated on standard definition while other countries have advanced to High Definition and ultra-High Definition.

He called for special consideration of grants for Broadcast Organisations in Nigeria to remain afloat just as it was done to other sectors such as Aviation, Banking, Hospitality, Manufacturers among others during the covid-19 Pandemic.

Good will messages were presented by the DG National Broadcasting Commission, the President Nigeria institute of Public Relations, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria amongst others.

In a paper Presented by the Guest Speaker Professor Armstrong Idachaba Titled, “Broadcast Media in a Quagmire, What Options” the speaker dwelled on the challenges faced by Broadcast Media in the country. These challenges range from poor funding, lack of editorial independence and lack of professional commitment and ideologies.

According to him the coming on board of the society of Nigerian Broadcasters would rescue some of the challenges in the industry.

To tackle the Quagmire in the industry, Profession Idachaba suggested a vibrant sustainable and credible advert industry where payment for adverts is done within a stipulated time frame to help the media organisations.

He opined that Government controlled broadcasting should be transferred into Public Broadcasting Service accountable to the Public through Legislature where they should be over seen by Boards which will be appointed through transparent process involving the civil society.

Funding should be provided through Radio and TV Set ownership fees and licenses.

THE RESOLUTIONS

The General Assembly calls on Government to halt the sale of the spectrum primarily allocated to broadcast Organisations to Telecom operators because of the devastating effects the sale will have on future development of Television and radio in Nigeria and anticipated consequences it will have on the general public.

BON calls on government not to sell spectrum, if allowed it will limit Television broadcast in Nigeria permanently on Standard Definition (SD) while other countries are already advancing to   High Definition (HD) and Ultra High Definition (UHD).

BON agrees to use the platform of its members to call the attention of Government and the general public to the looming problems that will likely take Television out of the reach of the middle and lower class. 

The Assembly calls on the National Assembly to wade in into the matter of purported sale of the spectrum primarily allocated to broadcasting in Nigeria and warned that the decision to cohabit broadcasting with telecom has not been taken by the International Telecommunications Union. 

The Assembly calls on Federal government to consider broadcast media houses in its planned financial assistance to small and medium businesses because of the accumulated effects running the stations during the Covid-19 pandemic in the national interests without any revenue for almost 12 months. 

BON agrees with the admonition given to NBC by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi that NBC should be more concerned in developing of the broadcast industry. The General Assembly calls on NBC to engage necessary stakeholders to navigate the problem slowing down digital switchover in the country with the aim of proffering workable solutions. 

BON calls on individual media practitioners and broadcast media houses to ensure upholding of professionalism in the discharge of their sacred duties. 

While analysing the renewed hope agenda of the current administration, the General Assembly notes the desire of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reposition the nation’s economy. The Assembly calls on the President and his team to adopt methods that will restore the value of the nation’s currency and the quick completion of turn around maintaince refineries to bring down the cost of petroleum products in the country,

The General Assembly while commending the Nigerian Military and other security agencies on curbing the insecurity across the country, enjoys the Military and related agencies to sustain the tempo of kinetic and non-kinetic engagements to reduce insurgence, wanton killing and kidnapping to the barest minimum. 

The General Assembly condemn the killing of media practitioners in the country and plead with the security agencies to bring to book those that masterminded the murder of the staff of Voice of Nigeria in Zamfara. 

The General Assembly during its 22nd AGM elected Alh. Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos & High Chief Tony Akiotu as the Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively. 

The General Assembly expresses profound gratitude to MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria for their contributions to the growth of broadcasting through Mr John Ugbe, CEO of MultiChoice and Dr.Mansur Liman who served as Chairman and Vice Chairman of BON respectively between October 2021 and October 2023.

The General Assembly commends the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi and the Minister of State for Environment Dr.Isiaq Kunle Salako for presenting the road map of their respective ministries to BON members and promise them more robust engagement in very near future. 

The Assembly commends BON Secretariat for the success recorded so far in bringing the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters on proper footing. 

The Assembly endorsed the expansion proposal on Society of Nigerian Broadcasters and calls on qualified Broadcasters to embrace the Society for the future benefits of the industry.

Sign

Mr. Ahaziah Abubakar Suleiman

Chairman, Communiqué Committee  

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