NBC Spells out Broadcast Laws, Sanctions Adaba FM

Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, director general, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has stressed the need for broadcasting stations to play strictly by the rules as contained in the Nigeria Broadcasting code.
He said it has become expedient to remind stations of the provisions of the broadcast rules designed to create and promote equity and political harmony amongst the populace – a statement made in reaction to recent lopsided coverage of elections and political reportage by broadcast stations in the country.
The NBC boss enjoined the stations to take special note of Section 5.2.10 which says ‘A station or its staff shall not at electioneering time, broadcast the collated sum of votes obtained at different polling stations, or from exit polls, to project or speculate on the candidate who, at airtime, was leading or doing better or worse than his opponent(s);’ and Section 5.2.11 which says ‘A station shall broadcast election results or declaration of the winner of an election only as announced by the authorized electoral officer for the election.’
These he said, form the bedrock of political broadcast, adding that stations must note that the authorized electoral officers for elections in states are the state electoral commissioners.
“Any contravention of these provisions of the code is a class B offence which will in the first instance attract a fine of N500, 000 only and a possible suspension of the erring station’s license with a re-commencement fine of not less than N1, 000, 000,” he stated
Bolarinwa warned stations not to under any circumstances allow individuals or groups, no matter their status or position in the society, use their platforms to announce election results at any time during elections, which violates the broadcast code.
The Commission has sanctioned Adaba FM, a privately owned radio station in Akure, Ondo state, as part of efforts to ensure strict adherence to the code.
On May 25, 2009, while transmitting the coverage of the Ekiti State Governorship re-run-election, at about 9.30 am, the station broadcast materials that were capable of inciting members of the public to violence and consequently leading to breakdown of law and order.
The station has since been fined a sum of N500, 000 for violating section 3.1.2 and 1.4.4 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
The letter of sanction was issued to Mr. Joseph Alake, acting general manager of the station who has been given May 8, 2009 deadline to pay the fine or face higher sanctions.
A statement from Awwalu Salihu, NBC’s head of Public Affairs, reiterated the Commission’s determination to ensure that broadcasting stations conform to the rules of the game, to ensure fairness and peace in the nation’s political process.