Clampdown on debtor broadcast stations, ill advised – NUJ President

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has described as hasty, the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast stations for their inability to renew their licenses as hasty and ill advised.

National President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, while reacting to NBC’s action revoking the licenses of the affected broadcast stations Friday afternoon, said the country could ill-afford the consequences of such large scale clampdown on the 52 broadcast stations, given the high level of insecurity in the country.

Director-General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, had on Firday, August 19, directed 52 broadcast stations which, he said, had defaulted in payment of their annual licenses to shut down operations within 24 hours.

“In May 2022, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) published in the National Dailies, the list of licensees that are indebted to the Commission, and granted them two weeks to renew their licenses and pay their debts or consider their licenses revoked, frequencies withdrawn and the withdrawn frequencies reassigned to others who are ready to abide by the necessary requirements.

“Three months after the publication, some licensees are yet to pay their outstanding debts, in contravention of the National Broadcasting Commission Act CAP N11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, particularly section 10(a) of the third schedule of the Act.

“In view of this development, the continued operation of the debtor stations is illegal and constitutes a threat to national security.

“Therefore, after due consideration, NBC hereby announces the revocation of the licenses of the under-listed stations and gives them 24 hours to shut down their operations. Our offices nationwide are hereby directed to collaborate with security agencies to ensure immediate compliance,” The NBC DG, said.

Reacting to the development, the National President of NUJ, Isiguzo, noted that NBC should have exercised restraint and consulted widely before taking such decision.

In a statement titled “NBC, Hasty Action,” issued in Abuja shortly after the NBC hammer had descended on the affected stations, the NUJ boss added that the action was ill-timed and reckless.

The statement reads: “The decision today by Industry Regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast stations nationwide over indebtedness to the Commission was ill advised.

“The affected stations, according to NBC, are said to owe arrears of licence fees amounting to N2.6 billon since 2015.

“Although the Director-General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, claimed that this development had no political motives, yet we insist that the action was ill timed and reckless.

“It should be noted that this wholesale revocation of licenses at this critical time of insecurity in the Country appears to be a decision taken without careful prior deliberation, consultation or counsel.

“While we regret the inability of these broadcast stations to fulfill their obligations to NBC, in view of dwindling resources, we caution against such large scale clampdown of broadcast stations in disregard to security issues and the attendant consequence. We cannot afford the unpleasant outcome of such 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, “ Isiguzo said.

Stations affected by the NBC shutdown directive include AIT, Silverbird, Rhythm FM and some state broadcasting stations.