NBC to close down media organisations over N5bn debt

THE National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), on Monday, gave 18 days ultimatum to broadcast organisations around Nigeria owed the commission over N5 billion to pay off or have their stations closed down completely.

It also announced the revocation of licenses of 54 companies that were already issued licenses but had refused to pay their fees within the mandatory 60–day window, while the process was on going to revoke over 120 licenses that were paid within the mandatory period but were unable to come on air, within the mandatory two years.

Its Director General, Mr Is’haq Modibbo Kawu disclosed this at the press briefing, which was held at the National Headquarters of the commission in Abuja.

He insisted that all outstanding sums owed the commission would be collected, because the NBC’s ultimatum deadline is tomorrow, March 15, before extending it to March 31, affirming that after the last deadline, any station that refused to meet its license fees obligations to the commission would be closed down.

“At our stakeholders’ conference with broadcast organisations, I had informed stations of a persistent pattern of refusal to pay license fees. Stations around Nigeria owe the NBC over N5 billion. Even the statutory act of informing NBC, six months before expiration of licenses and signification of intention to continue as licenses is willfully ignored by stations.

“While every licensee is aware that every license issued by NBC is provisional and could be withdrawn at any point, stations carry on as if they own those licenses and can do as they pretty well please.
License fees are in arrears, there is no plan by many of these stations to pay, while some even have the temerity to write NBC, the regulatory institution, that the amount they are obliged to pay is too much, consequently, they then tell us how much they are willing to pay, and even adding the time they are going to pay such sums that they have decided to pay.

“I want to affirm that after March 31, stations that refuse to meet their license fees obligations to the NBC would be closed down”, declared.

On Digital Switch Over (DSO), he said the commission has commenced the settlement of all indebtedness arising from the contracts awarded in respect of the DSO, pointing out that the commission has effected payments to the set top boxes manufacturers.

“Settlement of their monies came to about N5 billion. The next phase of payment we are processing is what is due to the DSO backbone group, our signal distributors, ITS and Pinnacle communications Limited.
These payments would help our various stakeholder groups to meet their obligations as well as deepen commitment to the entire effort to achieve a nation-wide DSO”, he added.