Some stations glorify hate speech, divisive comments -NBC

The National Broadcasting Commission on Wednesday warned broadcasters covering the upcoming general election to abide by the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and other relevant regulations that guide the broadcasting of elections in Nigeria.

Consequently, the commission ordered all broadcasters to refrain from using or using their facilities by politicians and their supporters for broadcasting content that could lead to the breakdown of law and order.

NBC director general Balarabe Shehu Ilelah said in a statement that broadcasters were therefore expected to fulfill the role of peace agents by adhering to the principles of accountability, accuracy and neutrality.

The statement read: “The National Broadcasting Commission would once again remind all broadcasters covering the upcoming general election to take note of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and other relevant regulations guiding the broadcasting of elections in Nigeria.

“The committee has observed with deep concern how ethics and ethos have been flouted by politicians, using broadcast media platforms. This is contrary to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which requires the broadcaster to avoid hate speech, inflammatory, derogatory and divisive remarks or innuendos when using material for news and current affairs programmes.

“The commission notes that some stations are now glorifying these situations on their platforms. The National Broadcasting Commission reiterates that such a station will pay for their professional misconduct.

“For the avoidance of doubt, broadcasters are advised to note the following sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which states that the broadcaster:

“Promote human dignity, therefore hate speech is prohibited; to ensure that no language or scene is broadcast that could incite or incite crime, or lead to disorder;

to ensure that no program contains anything that amounts to undermining established authority or jeopardizes the unity or corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign state; not transmit divisive materials that could threaten or compromise the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state.”

Other sections require the broadcaster to ensure that a political broadcast is clearly identified as such and not presented in a manner that would lead the public to believe that the program is of a different type

“Ensure that the broadcast of any partisan political campaign, jingle, announcement and any form of identification or symbol of a partisan political party ends no later than twenty-four hours before Election Day; do not use votes obtained at a polling station or from an exit poll to project or speculate on a candidate’s chances.

“Only communicate the election results or announcement of the winner as announced by the appropriate election officer. In exceptional circumstances, a government official may perform a service related to his/her office within the 24-hour campaign restriction period, provided there is no bias by the official or the broadcaster.”

Ilelah said: “The NBC ACT CAP N11, Acts of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, also prescribes, in the Third Schedule 12(6) that “A Licensee shall be responsible for the content of the station’s broadcast.

“In conclusion, the committee calls on all broadcasters not to use their platforms and facilities, or allow them to be used by politicians, their supporters and/or sympathizers, for broadcasting content that could lead to a disturbance of public order.

“Broadcasters are therefore expected to fulfill the role of peace agents by adhering to the principles of accountability, accuracy and neutrality.”