Stakeholders call for revolutionization of broadcast sector
By Oghale Mafuru
Stakeholders across the different strata of the media industry have called for a critical review of the regulatory framework of the broadcast sector with specific focus on the modus operandi of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, the apex regulatory body for the broadcast profession in Nigeria, in line current realities and global standards.
This call was made in a communique signed by the, Executive Director Chairperson, Institute for Media and Society, Dr. Akin Akingbulu and Executive Director Chairperson, Institute for Media and Society (IMS) Communique Drafting Committee Mrs. Miriam Menkiti, after a two-day meeting organized by the Institute for Media and Society held as part of activities under the Support-to Media component of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGN II) project.
According to the communique, the meeting which has the theme: “Conversation Between Industry Stakeholders on Issues in Broadcasting Legislative/Regulatory Frameworks”, called for a comprehensive restructuring of the broadcast sector in Nigeria with relevant provisions of the Constitution amended to reflect the changing political, technological and economic environment.
While harping on the need for credibility and effective handling of violation cases, the group recommended that the constitution should accord the NBC the autonomous powers to operate without undue interferences.
It reads: “The independence of the National Broadcasting Commission should be strengthened in law and in practice, including by ensuring that the tenures of the Director-General and Board members are clearly stated and that they have security of tenure; that the funding of the Commission is adequate for its functions and secure; and that the Commission is insulated from political, economic and other interference or pressures”.
It added that the NBC should be given the sole and undisputable mandate to oversee the issuance of broadcast licenses as well as all regulatory functions in the interest of transparency and fairness.
“Full powers should be granted to the NBC to carry out the full range of its regulatory functions, including the issuance of broadcast licenses. Accordingly, Section 39(2) of the Constitution and the proviso to it should be amended to vest in the Commission the final authority to issue broadcast licenses while other encumbrances in the National Broadcasting Commission Act should be removed so that the process of licensing broadcast stations should begin and end with the NBC”.
In the area of funding, the group proposed that urgent measures should be taken to ensure that the Commission receives its share of the digital dividends arising from the re-sale or re-allocation of frequencies that are being ceded by the broadcast sector as a result of the digital switchover.
Commenting the free of the Press, the group urged the NBC to provide an enabling environment for professionalism thorough monitoring and investigation of unethical conducts.
“In every case where the NBC receives a complaint of the violation of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, the Commission should ensure that in the handling of the complaint, the alleged violator is given a fair hearing in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Code and that the process is transparent”.
They added the freedom of the media should be guaranteed by the Constitution through the enforcement of the law as well as the amendment and repeal of any section of the constitution that inhibits the freedom of the media.
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