…They must operate within rules – Commission insists
The National leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has declared that for democracy to flourish and be considered free, stable and acceptable to the citizens, the media must be free to operate without constant harassment and intimidation by regulating agencies.
This was the Director General of the NBC, Mr. Balarabe Shehu Ilelah said that the Commission has no intention whatsoever to suppress freedom or gag the media in any way but merely regulating based on existing laws and rules.
National President of the NUJ, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, who stated this on Friday evening when he led some members of the Union on a visit to the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Balarabe Shehu Ilelah and members of his management team, said the media is a stakeholder in the Nigeria project and cannot be out to destroy the country.
The NUJ’s visit which was sequel to the invitation extended to Channels Television staff over comments by some guests that participated in their current affairs programme ‘Sunrise Daily’, generated different reactions and some social media stories considered to be fake by the NBC.
The NUJ President told the NBC Director General that there are many stories depicting that the regulatory commission is strangulating the media through Armstrong control measures that are attempting to erode free speech and press freedom.
In the words of Isiguzo; “The Union is worried by the frequent queries and invitations to media houses by NBC over alleged professional misconduct. This gives the impression that the Federal Government is not averse to criticisms of its policies, actions or inactions.
“If the media is no longer free to express themselves freely, the system and democracy we all cherish will be in trouble. I can assure you that journalists are more interested in developmental journalism and not destruction.
“While appreciating the concerns of the NBC as a regulator, the NUJ is of the opinion that there should be more interface with media professionals in this regard. We believe that as stakeholders, we should all come together and discuss ways and means of improving reportage rather than allowing NBC alone to make such pronouncements that gives the impression that Government plans to muzzle the media.
The NUJ also called on the Federal Government through the NBC to wave-off the current license fees being charged broadcasting stations in view of the down turn of the economy occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic that is making many broadcasters to lay-off their staff owing to rising cost of operations.
Isiguzo further said; “We suggest that the licence fees being paid by such organizations should be completely waved for now to enable these media houses remain operational.
“We have also followed carefully the process of Digitization and suggest that there is the urgent need for a complete review of the process, specifically in the area of legal framework as the only document available remains the Government White paper of 2012 which does not capture contemporary technological development and it is deficient in addressing decade long issues that have emerged since its issuance,” the NUJ President said.
Responding, the Director General of the NBC, Mr. Balarabe Shehu Ilelah said that the Commission is not operating to suppress freedom, gag the media in any way but regulating based on existing laws and rules.
Shehu explained that Channels Television was only invited to appear before the Commission based on certain infractions it committed which is normal as a regulatory body, stressing that nobody or organisation is above the law.
The NBC DG said that insulting the president or anybody else on television is not freedom of the media, adding that there are rules guiding broadcasting which must be adhere to by practitioners.
He said that surprisingly, the social media went to town with fake news that the staff of Channels Television were arrested by the Department of State Services which was completely not the case.
“I am happy that you were here yesterday and after our discussion, you met with the Channels Television staff in a meeting with the NBC staff in this same Boardroom. How can such a meeting be term as an arrest?
“We shall continue to fight fake news. We would not be cowed or intimidated. Journalists must live and operated within the ambit of the law. The NUJ has a responsibility to ensure that the media is not used to destroy the country,” he said.
