South-West Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) has described the ordering of the immediate stoppage of one of Channels Television’s programmes, ‘Politics Today’ and the fine of five million naira on the station by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) purportedly for breaching the broadcast code as unconstitutional and arbitrary.
The Acting Director-General of the Commission (NBC), Professor Armstrong Idachaba, in a letter to the Managing Director of Channels Television referred to Channels’ 7 pm live programme of Sunday, 25th April 2021, that saw the TV station interviewing a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) allegedly without “caution or reprimand.”
SWEGOP in a release on Monday evening, signed by its Chairman, Mr Olayinka Agboola and the Public Relations Officer, Remi Oladoye said: “The decision of the NBC to order the stoppage of Channels TV’s programme is yet another instance of the Federal Government’s plan to effectively muzzle independent media and voices.
The development is, no doubt, detrimental to media freedom and access to information in the country.”
The group of online publishers noted that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has a responsibility to protect Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
SWEGOP, while describing media freedom as a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression and access to information said: “Punishing Channels TV lacks any legal basis whatsoever, hence it amounts to an arbitrary and unjust application of regulations against the media. It is equally unconstitutional.
“The government and NBC should, therefore, uphold the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom, by thereby and reversing itself.”
SWEGOP then urged President Buhari to caution NBC to stop intimidating and harassing independent media and respect the Nigerian Constitution.
Sinilarly,The Nigerian Guild of Editors condemns in strong terms the threat issued to Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, over an interview with the spokesperson of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Emmanuel Powerful.
Powerful had featured on Channels programme “Politics Today” on Sunday April 25, 2021 , where he allegedly made inciting statements.
The NBC in the letter ordered the immediate suspension of the programme.
In statement signed byMustapha Isah,
President and Mary Atolagbe,General Secretary, the editors maintained that the Guild will not stand by and watch media houses being threatened by regulatory agencies in the country.
Press freedom is threatened when media houses are made to operate in an atmosphere of fear .
The Guild stands with Channels and will go to any length to defend press freedom in the country.
The body of editors believes that the NBC is guilty of double standards because stations that carried Sheikh Gumi’s parley with terrorists in their camps, were not sanctioned by the commission.
The NBC should jettison the practice of issuing threats to broadcast stations over matters that could easily be dealt with through dialogue.
Democracy will be meaningless in Nigeria if press freedom is eroded.
SERAP has urged the Federal Government and NBC to immediately reverse the suspension of Channels Television and imposition of N5 million fine on the station for breaching the broadcast code.
SERAP in a statement yesterday by its deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare said: “The suspension of Channels Television is unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, and without any legal basis whatsoever. The government and NBC should immediately lift the suspension and reverse the fine. We will pursue appropriate legal action if the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal suspension and fine are not reversed within 48 hours.”
SERAP said: “This action by the government and NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities’ push to silence independent media and voices.
The government and NBC lift the suspension and uphold the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom.
PDP also described as draconian, the reported suspension and fine of N5 million slammed by NBC on Channels Television over alleged violation of broadcasting code.
