Plans are underway by the Federal Government to regulate the activities of online news platforms in the country.
The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Reform Implementation Committee, has already been inaugurated to carry out the task of coming up with a framework.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the decision to regulate the activities of the online media was part of the recommendations of a committee earlier set up to make the NBC more effective.
According to Mohammed, the president had approved of the recommendations.
Said he: “The terms of reference of the committee are as follows; To establish and publish a new regulation for the licensing of web and internet broadcasters/international broadcasters in Nigeria.
“To immediately commence work on all statutory, legal and regulatory framework for further legislative action on the review of the NBC act by the national assembly.
“To work out the modalities for a competitive and reasonable salaries, wages and other welfare needs of the staff of the commission.
“To establish necessary protocols for the establishment or appointment of professionals or technocrats (non-partisan personality) to run the agency, and appointment into the board of the NBC.”
While the Director of Monitoring of the NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, chairs the committee, the Chief Press Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mr. Joe Mutah, is the secretary.
Other members of the committee are: the Acting Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa; the Director, Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, J.K. Ehicheoya; Secretary, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hajia Binta Adamu Bello; Director of Administration, FRCN, Mr. Ibrahim Jimoh and Board Member, NBC, Agbo Kingsley Ndubuisi.
The committee, Mohammed said, was given six weeks to submit its report.
