To stop arbitrariness and excess of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, is a task that must be done.
This is the declaration by the Executive Director of the Lagos based International Press Centre, IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, and Associate Professor of Journalism, Dr. Tunde Akanni, on Thursday. .
The declaration was made against the backdrop of the threat posed to democratic norms and standards by the amendments to the 6th edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
The duo spoke at the public presentation of a publication, “Question Mark on the 6th NBC Code Amendments” which they co-authored.
The event was held at the IPC conference hall, Ogba, Lagos.
The authors said herculean though, the task to stop the obnoxious amendments sections of the 6th NBC Code Amendments, was imperative.
Said the duo: “Just as it was said in the unfortunate civil war period that ‘to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done’, Nigerians now need to equally adopt the slogan: to stop arbitrariness and excesses of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, is a task that must be done.
“Herculean, no doubt, the task promises to be. But it is one whose accomplishment must be considered an urgent imperative so that businesses operating in the media and communications sector can flourish while freedom of the press and the rights of journalists are not unduly curtailed.
“In other words, the choice before the Nigerian public is either of these two: to push for a de-politicised and industry-friendly regulatory code for the broadcast sector; or to accept one that strangulates and perpetually holds the sword of Damocles over the sector and its players.”
The authors pointed out that some key amendments to the code posed problems, especially in relation to the extent to which they could undermine democratic norms and standard and jeopardise the cherished values of broadcast sector liberation and free enterprise economy.
They stated: “Consider the fact that section 2.127.2 of the Code seeks to confer arbitrary powers on the NBC to, among others, take down or shut down a station for violating the provisions relating to web/online broadcasting without making any provision for stations that may be concerned to seek redress.
“Also consider the fact that the provisions of section 3.18.2 (e) and section 3.18.3 (a-d) constitute a usurpation of the functions and powers of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, with section 3.18.3 (d) being particularly offensive and anti-democratic as it seeks to oust the jurisdiction of the courts by making final the decision of Nigeria Copyright Commission on the issues referred to in the sections. Still about music, the provision of section 3.18.2 (e) does not consider the fact that not all artistic works are covered by or eligibly for royalty.”
Pointing out that there were other objectionable provisions in the code, the authors said it was not for nothing therefore that the assorted stakeholders took more than a passing interest in the controversial code.
“Today therefore offers us all, through the publication… the collated views of a number of our colleagues so we can run ahead with the baton of the campaigns for the ultimate victory that we deserve.”
The publication, the authors said, was a voluntary work of like minds in the media “who prefer to identify themselves as Independent Broadcasters and Free Press Advocates.”
