The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has fined Abuja-based Vision FM N5 million and suspended the station’s current affairs programme Idon Mikiya for six months.
A letter signed by NBC director-general Balarabe Ilelah and addressed to the managing director of Vision Media Services Limited said the suspension took effect from January 28.
NBC said in the letter that its action followed the monitoring of the broadcast of Idon Mikiya on January 5 on both Vision FM and Farin Wata TV.
“Your discussion on issue, including appointments at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), constitutes a breach of the provision of section 39(3)(b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which imposes restrictions on matters concerning government security services or agencies established by law,” the letter read.
“Transmitting the trade secrets or other issues regarding a national security agency amounts to an act prejudicial to national security contrary to the above section cited.
“Recall that the commission has invited the management of Vision FM severally bordering on issues of balance, fairness and presenter bearing opinion, which are violations of the following Sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”
The broadcast company’s managing director Shuaibu Mungadi told Daily Trust that it had complied with the suspension order.
Before being suspended, Idon Mikiya aired on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in the company’s seven broadcast stations across Nigeria.
