The National Broadcasting Commission of Nigeria (NBC) reports that 25 stations have received sanctions for breaking the broadcasting code.
Mallam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, the director general of NBC, announced this in Abuja and added that the commission had also given 16 others a final caution for breaking the rules of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code during the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25.
According to him, one station was sanctioned for broadcasting the results of the election before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, disclosed the results, which violated section 5.33 of the NBC code, while 17 stations were sanctioned for broadcasting partisan party contents after the stipulated 24-hour stoppage time by NBC.
He also mentioned that four stations had received penalties for making controversial remarks.
The NBC director stated that in the course of monitoring the presidential election, the commission observed that some broadcast stations allowed their platforms to be used by some guests, callers, and analysts to score harmful political points detrimental to the corporate existence of the country, adding that ethnic and religious profiling became extremely rampant.
The DG urged broadcasters to practice their right to free speech as representatives of society, not to advance their own or their owners’, relatives’, or supporters’ rights or privileges, as is stated in Section 3.1.3 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“I wish to re-emphasize that, even as we go into the Gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly elections in the next three days, all broadcasters must adhere strictly to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and the National Broadcasting Act CAP N11 Laws of the Federation, 2004.
”For the avoidance of doubt, the code in the listed sections admonished broadcasters in the following Sections: 5.3.3(J) ensure that the broadcast of a partisan political campaign, jingle, announcement, and any other form of partisan party identification or symbol ends not later than twenty-four hours before polling day.
”For the avoidance of doubt, the code in the listed sections admonished broadcasters in the following Sections: 5.3.3 (J) Ensure that the broadcast of a partisan political campaign, jingle, announcement, and any other form of partisan party identification or symbol ends not later than twenty-four hours before polling day”, he said.
“The commission wishes to remind you that we have one country. And if we pave way for anarchy, we will all be affected. We are only in business because we have peace. Our diversity should be our strength, our assets, our power.
”We must guard this jealously. History shows that all Civil wars ever fought by people of the same race, started in the media. When those who should dish out information, becomes bias and pitch camp with different groups, division is heightened.”