Director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission Balarabe Ilelah on Monday said the commission would not relent in its fight to end the spread of false news by broadcasters.
Ilelah said this when members of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) led by their president Chris Isiguzo visited the commission’s office in Abuja.
The visit followed the summoning of some journalists from Channels TV following a controversial interview with Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.
“As leaders of your various reputable and responsible organisation, I want you to tell your members that nobody is above the law,” the NBC boss said.
“All of us must live within the coverage of the law and we must be held accountable.
“Journalism is a profession that has ethics, we are supposed to operate within the ethics of the profession..
“You came to the commission based on some reports from the social media.
“As a journalist, I know that news coming from social media are not verified and normally when you get information from anywhere, you need to verify the source of the news.
“But when the news had no source and then you went again and keep on spreading the news, that is not journalism.
”We are going to keep on fighting people that are spreading fake news, the commission will not be scared and will keep on summoning anyone who goes contrary to NBC code.”
Ilelah said that NBC mandate is to regulate and work with media houses, to sanitise the industry and to make sure that things are done according to the law.
“NBC is not here to suppress press freedom, but to guide the press.
“Our duty is to make sure that everybody is given a fair playing ground so that you can say whatever you want to say that is according to the law,” he said.
Earlier, the NUJ president while congratulating the director-general, said for democracy to be considered good, there must be a media that operates without unnecessary encumbrances.
Mr Isiguzo also appealed to the NBC to grant NUJ to licence to operate the NUJ radio and television.
