Pascal Oparada
The news that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, singlehandedly amended the new Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Code without consulting stakeholders has earned him knocks from Nigerians.
They are peeved that the new code is aimed at destroying the creative and entertainment industry in the country.
This week, the Board of the NBC distanced itself from the 6th review of the NBC Code, saying Mohammed acted alone and without due process.
The board which insisted that its inputs were not sought or collated to make up the amendment, alleged that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, singlehandedly spearheaded the new amendment, describing it as strange in the history of the nation’s broadcast industry.
The chairman of the NBC Board, Ikra Bilbis, during a press conference in Abuja, said the procedures for the review which were undertaken every four years involving staff of the NBC, former DGs, retired Directors and all other relevant stakeholders in broadcasting was flouted, the Punch reported.
“The minister’s version of the revised code does not meet any known criteria of due process and inclusiveness of stakeholders,” he said.
“From the history, traditions and the convention of the NBC, no Minister of Information has ever interfered in any NBC Code review. After the 2019 presentation of the 6th code (which is the present one), the minister has acted alone with just a handful of his loyalists who have written a new NB Code that has created an uproar in the industry, threatening to destroy investments and lead to job losses.
The new NBC rule which also said that the president, governor and serving government officials are immune from insults and criticisms did not go down well with Nigerians, who believe the country is descending into a dictatorship.
Social media users took a swipe at the Minister for.introducing what they called authoritarian laws.
Social media influencer, Dipo Awojide said the new rule, which saw a radio station fined, would stop journalists from carrying their constitutional duties in peace.
“Nigerian journalists cannot even ask tough questions in peace. They will be harassed, and their employer might be made to cough out money. Nigeria has so much growing up to do, ” Awojide tweeted, on Thursday.
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“If you don’t want anyone to INSULT you, stay in your father’s house and do not contest for public office.
The moment you occupy any public office, you are a SERVANT and you can be INSULTED especially when you are clueless and useless.
Please, Lai Mohammed, take note.
INSULT 1.0,” Tosin Olugbenga said on Twitter.
A radio station was fined N5 million this week following an interview with former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadaiah Mailafia.
