NBC caution broadcasting stations to desist from contents that may break law in Nigeria

The National Broadcasting Commission has cautioned the broadcasters covering the general elections on Monday 27th February 2023 to cease using their facilities to broadcast content that may result in the breakdown of law and order in Nigeria.

The Director-General of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, stated the warning in a statement titled, “Warning to broadcast stations”, where he enjoined all broadcast stations to promote sustainable democracy in Nigeria, the commission also gave notice of appropriate sanctions on any erring station that operates outside the confines of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

His statement reads, “The National Broadcasting Commission reminds all broadcasters covering and reporting the 2023 general elections to endeavor to abide by the provisions of the Extant Electoral Law (s), the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and other relevant regulations guiding the broadcast of elections in Nigeria.

“The commission also said it had observed that some guests on broadcast stations are making volatile allusions capable of causing unrest in the country.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the code admonished broadcasters in the following Sections:

5.3.3(k) not use any vote obtained at a polling station or from an exit poll to project or speculate on the chances of a candidate; 5.3.3(l) relay election results or declaration of the winner only as announced by the authorized electoral officer for the election; The NBC Act CAP N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004, also prescribes, in the third Schedule 12(6) that, “A licensee shall be responsible for the content of the Station’s Broadcast.”

“The commission, while reminding all broadcast stations by this release that they must promote sustainable democracy in Nigeria, also warns that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to any erring station that operates outside the confines of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

“The commission enjoins all broadcasters to desist from using or allowing their platforms and facilities to be used for the broadcast of contents that may lead to the breakdown of law and order.

“Therefore, broadcasters shall perform the role of peace agents by adhering to the principles of responsibility, accuracy, and neutrality.”

BCS Bureau