NBC must avoid repeat of inciting broadcast from its licensee in 2023 ― Minister

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has charged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to ensure it prevents a repeat of what happened in the 2019 general election, where its licensees engaged in inciting, incendiary and unprofessional broadcasts.

The Minister said the 2023 election would be very tasking for the commission because it has to work round the clock to ensure that broadcast houses abide by the codes of the commission.

Alhaji Mohammed disclosed this while inaugurating the Governing Board of NBC, on Thursday, in Abuja.

“Please note that as we move closer to the 2023 general elections, NBC will come under increasing pressure to step up its regulatory role to prevent a repeat of what transpired before, during and after the 2019 general elections, when some broadcast stations threw caution to the wind and engaged in inciting, incendiary and unprofessional broadcasts.

“It is important for the commission to ensure that its licensees adhere strictly to the tenets of the Broadcasting Code,” the Minister said.

The Minister told the Board that there is not to engage in the day-to-today running of the Commission, instead, it is to evolve strategic ways of supporting the commission so it can most effectively deliver its mandate.

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He said NBC has a task to successfully transmit the broadcast industry from analogue to digital broadcasting, through the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.

“While the NBC is the implementing agency for this all-important project, a Ministerial Task Force on DSO, under my chairmanship, is driving the project. As quick background information, we launched the pilot phase of the project in Jos, Plateau State, on 30 April 2016 and, since then, we have launched the DSO here in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as in Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu, Osun, Lagos and Kano states.

“We have an ambitious plan to fast-track the DSO this year by launching it in at least two states every month. Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet this target.

“But we are working hard to resume the DSO launch as soon as possible. I urge you all to buy into this project to ensure that NBC is able to deliver on what we perceive as a legacy project – because it will change the face of broadcasting in Nigeria”, he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the NBC Board, Bashir Bolarinwa assured the Minister of the support of the Board to achieve the task of Digital Switch Over.

He pledged the commitment of the Board towards carrying out its function that would gear towards achieving the mandate of the Commission.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Culture Mrs Ifeoma Anyanwutaku to the Board to be guided by the provisions of the National Broadcasting Act, the guides to administrative procedures in the Federal Public Service, as well as the Public Service Rules.

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NBC must avoid repeat of inciting broadcast from its licensee in 2023 ― Minister