President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the review of the National Broadcasting Code and extant broadcasting laws to reflect an upward review of fines from N500,000 to N5 million for breaches relating to “hate speeches”, “inciting comments” and “indecency” on radio and television networks in the country.
The move is widely viewed as an attempt to further clampdown on broadcast media organisations who air reports considered “unfavourable” to the Buhari regime.
The Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed disclosed the new development on Thursday while inaugurating a National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Reforms Implementation Committee.
Mohammed explained that the upward review of fines was one of the recommendations contained in a report by a five-member committee set up in April, 2019 to inquire into the conduct of stations after the general elections.
The minister said Buhari also approved an amendment of the NBC Act to enable NBC license WebTv and radio stations, including foreign broadcasters beaming signals into Nigeria.
He said Buhari also approved the upgrade of breach of political comments relating to hate speeches and divisive comments to ”Class A” offence in the Broadcasting Code.
He added that the President also approved that wilful repeat of infractions on three occasions after levying fine on a station to attract suspension of licence, as well as the recruitment of more monitoring staff for the NBC.
“At the moment, there are only about 200 Staff monitoring about 1,000 radio and television stations,” Mohammed said.
According to the minister, other approvals by the president include the deployment of adequate monitoring equipment and technologies for the NBC and enhancement of welfare packages of NBC staff “to avoid their compromise in the line of duty”.
The minister said the newly inaugurated seven-man committee headed by Armstrong Idachaba, Director of Monitoring of the NBC, would begin implementations of the recommendations contained in the report which Buhari has approved.
Mohammed announced that the committee would among other things immediately establish and publicise a new sanctioning, fines and penalty regime that is in line with international best practice.
He said the committee will establish and publish a new regulation for the licensing of Web and Internet broadcasters/International broadcasters in Nigeria.
The minister noted that the committee would immediately commence work on all statutory, legal and regulatory frameworks for further legislative action on the review of the NBC Act by the National Assembly.
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