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NUJ: NBC’s Action Ill-timed, Reckless
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Restructure Stations’ Debts — NGE Tells NBC
- HURIWA: Shutdown ‘targeted at clipping the wings of independent voices.., a coup against media pluralism’
The Friday’s decision by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to shut down operations of 52 broadcast stations in the country has continued to elicit a barrage of harsh reactions from stakeholders and Nigerians.
The NBC, Friday, directed 52 broadcast outfits, including the African Independent Television, Silverbird Television and the various broadcasting corporations run by various state governments to shut down their operations. The commission hinged the decision on the NBC debts incurred by the broadcasting organisations amounting to at least N2.6bn.
Following the decision, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA), and the Editors’ Guild among a host of others have condemned the decision of the NBC in strong terms.
The affected stations include the African Independent Television (AIT)/Ray Power FM, Silverbird TV and Rhythm FM.
Also suspended were Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation, Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, and Ondo State Broadcasting Corporation, among others.
The NUJ, in its reactions described the revocation of the licences of the affected stations as ill-advised.
NUJ noted that though the Director General of the Commission, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, claimed that this development had no political motives, the action was ill-timed and reckless.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the National President of the union, Chris Isiguzo.
According to the statement, the revocation of licences appears to be a decision taken without careful prior deliberation, consultation or counsel.
The statement reads, “While we regret the inability of these broadcast stations to fulfil their obligations to NBC, in view of dwindling resources, we caution against such large scale clampdown on broadcast stations in disregard to security issues and the attendant consequence. We cannot afford the unpleasant outcome of such a media blackout at this time. We call on NBC to exercise more restraint on this issue in consideration of national security and allow for more dialogue and consultation to find a better way of dealing with the situation.”
Also, the Nigerian Guild of Editors in a statement on Friday, signed by its President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, expressed concerns that the NBC’s action, if not reversed, would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs in a country where jobs are scarce.
The NGE tasked the NBC to enter into dialogue with the affected stations to restructure the debts owed and work out convenient payment period to ensure their survival.
“The NGE is worried because media houses, which played and continue to pay a key role in the nurturing and development of democracy can’t just be off air no matter the reasons.
“While the Guild is not against broadcast stations fulfilling their financial obligations to the NBC, we note that the current harsh operating environment that has crippled every sector in our nation was not taken into account by the NBC before its action.
“Currently, it is difficult for private stations to import broadcast equipment due to the high exchange rate. We are all aware of the high operational cost, including the cost of diesel to power their generating sets”, the NGE stated in the statement.
Also, the HURIWA yesterday said the decision of NBC was unacceptable.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA alleged that the decision was pre-determined.
The statement read in part: “The decision by the NBC to revoke the operating licences of some notable broadcasting stations in Nigeria on the nebulous and superfluous claim that they are indebted to the NBC is totally and completely unacceptable.
“It is a decision that was predetermined, authored and unleashed directly from the office of Mr President and targeted at clipping the wings of independent voices and it is a coup against media pluralism.
“The fact is that for many people today, the media are the main source of their knowledge and entertainment and are part of the very structure of their lives.
“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari lacks transparency and accountability. The government’s financial policies are opaque and because there is no intention to infuse transparency and accountability as the core modus operandi and the fundamental objectives of the current administration, therefore the only way to hide the truth is to shut out the real, unbiased and raw information about government financial transactions and the way to do that is to attack the media and so it is clear that this decision has been long in coming because the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, has always told Nigerians about the plot of government to clamp down on independent media.
“Not long ago, a lot of bills emanated at the National Assembly aimed at whittling down the powers of independent media but the voice of the people defeated this sinister plot.
“So this is just a manifestation of dictatorship and tyranny because if a commercial dispute should arise regarding payments of licencing fees or renewal fees, there are processes and mechanisms of arbitration to sort out these administrative issues rather than revoke operational licences of media houses that provide employments to thousands of Nigerians in this period of economic austerity. This decision is provocative and undemocratic. By the way, does the government pay money for the public relations stories by way of press statements that these broadcasting stations air for this same government? So, why the use of a sledgehammer to kill off independent voices in the media in a bid to kill off their willpower to exercise their functions as the conscience of the nation as stipulated under Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
“We ask the government to revoke the revocation of these licences now and invite these stations to resolve the commercial disputes the government regulatory body has with them. Government should not be the creator of unemployment.”
In the same vein, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) described NBC’s action as ill-advised, insensitive and antithetical to the interests of the Nigerian public.
MRA who reacted in a statement issued by the Head of its Legal Department, Ms Obioma Okonkwo, MRA said by the revocation of the broadcast licences of so many stations for alleged non-payment of their licence fees, NBC was prioritising its desire to make money off the broadcasters over the interest of citizens, adding that the ultimate effect of its action was to deprive millions of Nigerians access to information as well as their rights and ability to freely express themselves through these stations.
She called on NBC to reverse its decision in the public interest to avoid creating a society of predominantly ignorant citizens, advising that the need to ensure that Nigerians are adequately informed through the media should supersede any other consideration by NBC.
The statement reads, “We are shocked by this naked display by the NBC of a lack of appreciation of its principal role which is to contribute to the emergence of a knowledge society. Rather, it has chosen to create an environment in which millions of Nigerians will wallow in ignorance, deprived of access to crucial information that they need to make critical decisions in their lives or to enhance their livelihoods.
“The fact that so many broadcasting stations have been unable to pay the licence fees raises serious questions about the fairness and appropriateness of the fees being imposed on broadcasters by NBC in such a challenging economic environment. As the NBC, which imposes the fees and collects them for its own use, there needs to be an independent inquiry into this apparent conflict of interest where the motivation of the commission is apparently to make as much money for itself as possible.”
See the full list of the affected 52 broadcasting stations;
1. Silverbird TV (Silverbird Communications Co. Ltd)
2. Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Abuja
3 Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Lagos
4. Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Yenagoa
5. Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Port-Harcourt
6. Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Jos
7. Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communication Ltd) Benin
8. AIT/Ray Power FM (DAAR Communication Itd) Network
9. Greetings FM (Greetings Media Ltd) FM Network
10. Tao FM (Ovidi Communications Ltd) FM Okene
11. Zuma FM (Zuma FM Ltd) FM Suleja
12. Crowther FM (Crowther Communications Ltd) FM Abuja
13. We FM (Kings Broadcasting Ltd) FM Benin
14. Linksman International Itd Keffi
15. Bomay Broadcasting Services Itd Abuja
16. MTV (Murhi International Group Ltd) Ibadan
17. Classic FM (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd) Port-Harcourt
18. Classic FM (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd) Lagos
19. Classic TV (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd) Lagos
20. Beat FM (Megalectrics LTD) Lagos
21. Cooper Communications Itd Lagos
22. Splash FM (West Midlands Ltd) Ibadan
23. Rock City FM (Boot Communications Ita) Abeokuta
24. Family FM (Kalaks Investments Nig. Ltd) Ilugun
25.Space FM (Creazioni Nig. Ltd) Ibadan
26. Radio Jeremi (Radio Jeremi Itd) Effurun
27. Breeze FM (Bays Water Itd) Akure
28. Vibes FM (Vibes Communication Itd) Benin
29.Family Love FM (Multimesh Broadcasting Co. Ltd) Port-Harcourt
30. Wave FM (South Atlantic Media Itd) Port-Harcourt
31. Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation
32. State Broadcasting Corporation
33. Niger State Broadcasting Corporation
34. Gombe State Broadcasting Corporation
35. Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation
36. Lagos DSB
37. Osun State Broadcasting Corporation
38. Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation
39. Ondo State Broadcasting Corporation
40. Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation
41. Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation
42. Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation
43. Imo State Broadcasting Corporation
44. Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation
45. Born State Broadcasting Corporation
46. Yobe State Broadcasting Corporation
47. Sokoto State Broadcasting Corporation
48. Zamfara State Broadcasting Corporation
49. Kebbi State Broadcasting Corporation
50. Jigawa State Broadcasting Corporation
51. Kaduna State Broadcasting Corporation
52. Katsina State Broadcasting Corporation
