Last week, broadcast regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, announced the immediate shut down of over 43 broadcast stations including the African Independent Television, AIT, and its sister radio station Raypower as well as SilverBird TV and partner station, Rhythm FM.
It is an understatement to say that the shockwave was of Tsunamic proportion. It was not long before that the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, International Press Institute, IPI, and civil society reacted to the development, they say was a threat to press freedom and democracy.
The NBC said the action was owing to the stations’ inability to renew their operating licences amidst other failure obligations.
It is pertinent to state that the media, as rightly noted by Mr. John Momoh, founder of Channels Television, faces existential threat in Nigeria just as it is in most parts of Africa.
Mr. Momoh in a paper noted that, “Like many other sectors of the economy, the media industry is feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic saw almost a quarter of the world’s population on lockdown. The broadcast and media industry was no exception and like every other sector, is still feeling the impact of the virus, be it in terms of activities related to broadcasting, financing, production, marketing/distribution, sales, advertising revenues or media technology investment.
“And what can we say about digitisation, which has caused untold disruption in the traditional business model of the news media. Today, in a technology-driven world such as we live in, television, particularly broadcast journalism, is being transformed in the ways that it is produced, distributed, and used. We are witnessing the emergence of new tools and practices, which invariably has affected the ways we produce information.”
The NBC’s latest sledgehammer approach to a matter it could have used dialogue to resolve speaks to the military hangover that created the commission.
For too long, the NBC continues to act as if the Act establishing it overrides the grundnorm; the Constitution.
It is instructive to remind the NBC that the constitution which decrees that the accountability of government to the people lies with the media cannot be circumscribed under any commercial interest.
Like the NUJ noted in its reaction, “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 fulfil 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.”
However, while we frown at the action of the NBCC, we remain persuaded that the affected media houses, are a victim of self-inflicted sanctions.
It is a wonder that state broadcast stations are caught in the mess when state governments spend billions in sending citizens of pilgrimages that have no bearing on real growth and development but could neglect to pay renewal licences for their broadcast stations.
More than these are the appalling conditions of most of these stations.
For the private stations, profligacy and lack of initiative are the bane of their operations. From deduction taxes and pensions which are hardly remitted, media owners are known to living large while pauperising those who work for them.
The media as the arbiter between the government and the people must exhibit the highest standard of probity and responsibility.
To continue to shirk on its social contract and abdicate its responsibility to the State is the height of irresponsibility and should not be allowed to continue.
It is, however, gratifying to note that the window of opportunity by the NBC is welcomed but rather short for any meaningful engagement.
We expect the affected media broadcast organisations to open dialogue with the NBC and work to resolve every grey areas for the overall benefit of Nigerians and guarantee the unfettered access of Nigerians to credible, verifiable and balanced news reports.
