The Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria (BON) has regretted the repressive nature of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the efforts of the federal government to gag and repress the media.
BON described the federal government’s recent imposition of a N5 million fine each on some broadcasting organisations over the airing of documentaries on terrorism and banditry as a premeditated, arbitrary, reprehensive and gross violation of NBC Codes.
It would be recalled that after the airing of documentaries made by Trust Television Network (Trust TV), owned by Media Trust Group, titled, “Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story” and that of BBC Africa Eye titled, “The Bandits Warlords of Zamfara”, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information, in a press briefing noted that the federal government was offended over the documentaries and vowed to sanction Trust TV and BBC.
According to the Minister of Information, the broadcasting organisations’ crime was that they “glorified activities of bandits and undermines national security” with their objective documentaries.
BON, in a letter dated August 4, 2022, directed to the Director General, National Broadcasting Commission and signed by BON Executive Secretary, Dr Yemisi Bamgbose, expressed that the action of the federal government against the media organisations through the NBC was a gross violation of the Nigerian constitution and NBC regulation.
The letter was titled, “Imposition of five million Naira fine on BON members by NBC is premeditated, arbitrary, reprehensive and a violation of NBC Codes”.
BON stated, “BON has noted that NBC in the last few years has violated its own laid down procedures of handling complaints from persons or group of persons or institutions against broadcaster(s). Section 14.3.1 says “The commission shall, on receipt of complaint(s):
“Inform and require the broadcaster to provide, within a specified period determined by the commission a response in writing and a recording of the relevant materials.
“Request for copies of the relevant correspondence from the complaint.
“In the current case, the NBC did not provide any written evidence from any complaint(s), nor did it issue any query to the said organisations that it claimed to have violated NBC codes.
“We note that failure to follow the laid down procedure would seem to suggest that NBc acted in an arbitrary manner and in violation of its own regulation as provided in section 14.3.1 cited earlier. Section 14.3.2 made it clear that it is when the broadcaster fails to react or supply materials or make response to the enquiries within a stipulated time limit that it shall be deemed as acceptance of the complaints. The sanctioned broadcasters were summoned to the NBC Headquarters on Wednesday 3rd of August 2022, only to be given letters of penalties without following due process.”
BON also pointed out that NBC further violated section 14.32(1)(2) of NBC codes.
Therefore, BON affirmed, “That it is against fair hearing and natural justice for NBC to sit as a judge over its case.”
It added, “That the imposition of arbitrary fines on broadcasters is repressive and akin to gagging of the media. That the current case, just like that of Channels Television and African Independent Television, lacked a fair hearing and is unacceptable.
BON noted that it does not against disciplinary actions on erring members provided the stipulated procedures were followed.
Following BON’s submission, BON demanded, “That NBC should withdraw the fines imposed on the aforementioned organisations for lack of fair hearing and violation of the Codes of NBC as stipulated in sections 14.2.(1) 92).”
