#EndSARS: NBC Cautions TV Stations From Using Unverified Information, Threatens To Raise Fine Of Sanctioned Stations

By Edna Wande On Nov 11, 2020

Acting Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, has cautioned broadcast stations in the country to independently verify the authenticity of information sourced on the social media before dissemination to the public.

He also said the commission might be forced to raise the fine imposed on some broadcast stations in October 2020.

It would be recalled that MDB last month reported that the NBC fined Channels Television, Arise Television and Africa Independent Television N3 million each for what it termed “unprofessional coverage” of the recent nationwide protest against police brutality (#EndSARS protest).

Speaking on Wednesday in an interview with Arise TV, Idachaba said some of the sanctioned stations had paid the fine but threatened to raise the fine for the stations who were yet to comply.

The acting director-general said;

Stations that have been fined have already responded. Some of them have actually paid their fines. Those who have not paid their fines are in further breach of the provisions of the law because what the law clearly says is that when you are sanctioned and you do not respond within time, the regulator has the right to upgrade the sanction and it is not a pleasing option. I hope that the regulator doesn’t get there.

He insisted that NBC was not going to waive the fine for any of the broadcast outfits, stressing;

The matter can be only resolved when stations pay the fines. But beyond payment of fines, I will be more gratified if we have a robust free environment, one that the operator exercises his editorial liberty but not to the point of becoming the aggravator and the stimulant to mass destruction of properties.

According to him, broadcasters were “reckless” during the coverage of the Lekki tollgate shooting on October 20, 2020.

Idachaba stressed;

The point basically is that at times of national emergency and crisis, there must be extreme care and restraint.

NBC’s action has been condemned by many Nigerians and some Civil Society Organisations including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which termed it as “unconstitutional and illegal”.

SERAP filed a lawsuit in collaboration with 261concerned Nigerians, civil society and media groups.

The group is urging the court to declare that the fine imposed by NBC on the media houses was “arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional”, asking the court to stop NBC from enforcing the fine.