NBC reads riot act to broadcasting stations

Ishaq Modibbo Kawu

Aminat Isah, Abuja.

The National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) has called on Stations to Follow the tenets of the broadcasting code ahead of the electioneering year.

The Director General NBC, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, gave the call during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He disclosed that NBC would  present the 6th edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code soon.

The DG said it is unethical and unprofessional to broadcast campaigns when when the period of commencement of campaigns have not commenced, especially with the use of insensitive and inflammatory broadcast in national issues.

Kawu further stressed that that appropriate sanctions would be melted out, should any station continue to violate the Broadcasting Code.

According to him,  “As we approach the electioneering period, stations must do everything professional to promote democracy. Broadcasters are reminded that they have a duty to respect all extant laws related to the reportage and coverage of the electoral process.

“Don’t broadcast campaigns when the period for commencement of campaigns have not commenced. We are disturbed by the pattern of insensitive and inflammatory broadcasts emanating from some broadcast stations, especially in their coverage of national crises, like the Herdsmen/Farmer crises.

“We have observed that some stations deliberately and repeatedly air very inciting contents long after the events break. We have warned stations that they must follow the tenets of the Broadcasting Code. Having warned broadcasters ,we shall follow up with appropriate sanctions should any station continue to violate the Broadcasting Code. Just yesterday, we released the sanctions profile for Nigerian broadcast stations for the 4th quarter of 2017.”

The NBC boss further reiterated that, “Many stations have been fined for hateful and inciting broadcast. (The list is already on our website). It is important to remind our presenters and so-called On-Air-Personalities (OAPs), that they must be professionally detached from the stories and reports of crises phenomena.

“They are to offer platforms for Nigerians to present all the sides to issues in the news, not become the subjects of these stories, as they are wont to doing on many programs. This is especially true of political programs on broadcast stations.”

On the progress of digital switch over,  DSO,  Kawu noted that the NBC is committed to roll out in many more states this year ,with the  roll out in Kwara and kaduna last year which have  brought the number of states now switched on to four.

“We have already scheduled Monday the 12th of February 2018 for the switch on for Enugu state. Similarly February 23rd has been affirmed for the switch on in Osun state, with six more states to come in 2018.

“Our second national signal distributor, Pinnacle Communications Limited, have moved to site in Delta state, and are also packed up for work in Gombe state.”