The Nationwide Broadcasting Fee has warned broadcasters masking the overall elections to desist from permitting their platforms and amenities for use for the printed of content material which will result in the breakdown of legislation and order in Nigeria.
The Director-Common of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, issued the warning in an announcement titled, “Warning to broadcast stations”, obtained by journalists in Abuja on Monday evening, February 27.
Whereas reminding all broadcast stations that they’ve an obligation to advertise sustainable democracy in Nigeria, the fee additionally warned that acceptable sanctions could be meted out to any erring station that operates exterior the confines of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
The assertion reads, “The Nationwide Broadcasting Fee reminds all broadcasters masking and reporting the 2023 common elections to endeavor to abide by the provisions of the Extant Electoral Legislation (s), the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and different related rules guiding the printed of elections in Nigeria.
“The fee additionally stated it had noticed that some visitors on broadcast stations are making unstable allusions able to inflicting unrest within the nation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the code admonished broadcasters within the following Sections:
5.3.3(ok) not use any vote obtained at a polling station or from an exit ballot to venture or speculate on the probabilities of a candidate; 5.3.3(l) relay election outcomes or declaration of the winner solely as introduced by the approved electoral officer for the election; The NBC Act CAP N11, Legal guidelines of the Federation, 2004, additionally prescribes, within the third Schedule 12(6) that, “A licensee shall be chargeable for the content material of the Station’s Broadcast.”
“The fee, whereas reminding all broadcast stations by this launch that they’ve an obligation to advertise sustainable democracy in Nigeria, additionally warns that acceptable sanctions could be meted out to any erring station that operates exterior the confines of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“The fee enjoins all broadcasters to desist from utilizing or permitting their platforms and amenities for use for the printed of contents which will result in the breakdown of legislation and order.
“Subsequently, broadcasters shall carry out the function of peace brokers by adhering to the rules of accountability, accuracy and neutrality.”
