NUJ condemns NBC for revoking broadcast licenses of Silverbird, AIT, Raypower, Rhythm FM

The National Union of Journalists, NUJ, has berated the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, for revoking the licenses of 52 broadcast stations in Nigeria.

The National President of NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, has lamented that the commission’s decision was hasty, ill-timed and reckless.

MOUTHPIECE NGR had earlier reported that the NBC had revoked the broadcast licences of Silverbird TV, AIT, Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM, amongst others.

The Director-General of the commission, Mallam Balarabe Shehu, while making this opinion on Friday in a statement, said the development followed the failure of the media houses to renew their broadcast licences.

He also orders its state offices to work with security agencies to effect the close down of the operation of the stations within the next 24 hours.

Reacting, Isiguzo said the commission must have taken such a decision without careful deliberation.

In a signed statement, Isiguzo said: “Media Release NBC: A hasty decision The decision today by the Industry Regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission – NBC, to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast stations nationwide over-indebtedness to the Commission was ill-advised. The affected stations, according to NBC, are said to owe arrears of licence fees amounting to N2.6 billion since 2015.

“Although the Director General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah claimed that this development had no political motives, yet we insist that the action was ill-timed and reckless. It should be noted that this wholesale revocation of licences at this critical time of insecurity in the Country appears to be a decision taken without careful prior deliberation, consultation or counsel.

“While we regret the inability of these broadcast stations to fulfil their obligations to NBC, in view of dwindling resources, we caution against such a large-scale clampdown of broadcast stations in disregard to security issues and the attendant consequence.

“We cannot afford the unpleasant outcome of such a media blackout at this time. We call on NBC to exercise more restraint on this issue in consideration of national security and allow for more dialogue and consultation to find a better way of dealing with the situation.”