Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday insisted on amendment of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act to allow the regulator greater control of the media space
Mr Mohammed, who spoke in Abuja when he received the report of the NBC Reforms Implementation Committee from Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, added that the government will acquire modern equipment to monitor web broadcast.
[ads]
“Some 27 years into the life of the NBC, there is the need to re-evaluate the applicability of some of its laws.
“Following the implementation framework presented to me, I will immediately commence the process of forwarding an Executive Bill for consideration of the Federal Executive Council and further legislative action.
“The Bill will address the existing lacuna in the areas of the regulation of the internet, the ongoing digital switch over, digital access fee, and insulation of the regulator from partisan politics,” he said.
[ads]
Mohammed said in the meantime, the NBC has been directed to immediately come up with regulations for content broadcast on the internet, noting, however, that the regulations must not in any way gag the press or hinder their universal role of providing valuable information to the citizenry.
He also said that in line with a presidential approval, the NBC has been mandated to amend the Broadcasting Code to reflect the upward review of fines from N500,000 to N5,000,000 for breaches relating to hate speeches, inciting comments and indecency while wilful repeat of infractions on three occasions, after levying fine on a station, will attract suspension of licence.
[ads]
Mohammed also said the NBC should immediately upgrade the breach of political comments relating to hate speeches and divisive comments to “Class A” offence in the Broadcasting Code.
He said that in order for the NBC to effectively perform its regulatory role in the internet age, the government will immediately commence the process for the acquisition of modern broadcast equipment for the purpose of monitoring and enforcement.
