NBC at Public Forum, Tasks Broadcasters on Quality of Content, Others

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has once again demonstrated that Nigerian citizens own the airwaves, with the gathering in Uyo of various stakeholders in that zone in the popular Public Forum organised by the Commission to create a meeting point between broadcasters and their audiences.
Being the fifth of such meetings this year, quality of broadcast content was a major issue stakeholders present identified as one of the banes of broadcasting in Nigeria, which they believed would ensure the survival of local TV and radio stations if made right.
The well represented assembly had the audience pour out grievances concerning quality of intellectual content, quality of picture and sound, marginalisation of physically challenged people by broadcasters and transmission of programmes relevant to the localities where they operate, among others.
Yomi Bolarinwa, director-general, NBC, who was represented by Mark Ojiah, the Commission’s director of Broadcast Research and Planning; gave the audience pointers for thought. “Are the stations transmitting quality programmes? Is the technical quality okay? Are children and family belts being respected? Are there obscenities in movies and vulgarities in musicals? Are stations respecting the country’s social and cultural values? Is there balance and equity in political broadcasts?” he posed.
“As it is my practice on occasions like this,” he said, “I endeavour to sensitize the stations to the breaches associated with them; with a view to getting them make amends. The sensitive nature of broadcasting makes it imperative for stations to be cautious and extol the virtues of moderation and patriotism in reporting crisis situation.”
The NBC boss pointed out some stations’ unwholesome practices in the reportage of the Niger Delta crisis, urging them to avoid the transmission of materials capable of triggering crime or public disorder. “Sensationalism shall be avoided by strictly refraining from speculations and statements, details or exaggerations that could aggravate mass public hysteria.”
Likewise, Ibrahim Najume, chairman, National Broadcasting Commission harped on the principle of good taste and decency in broadcasting, which he said should form a watchword for broadcasters who now tend to ignore it.
He reminded that the public forum was a feedback mechanism for all stakeholders in the industry to assess the performances of broadcast stations across the country; and urged consumers of broadcast contents (that is members of the public) to say whether the programmes they watch or listen to were acceptable or not.
Najume urged Nigerians to be patriotic in their taste of broadcast content and show support for locally produced programmes, as that would serve as great encouragement for the producers who would be spurred on to do better.
For most broadcasters in the Uyo zone, however, there appeared to be a parallel as regards problems encountered in the line of duty. These they identified to be multiple taxation by states and local governments, difficulty in acquiring quality content, shortage of funds, and not to mention electric power supply.
The Uyo forum served as a reminder for broadcasters to be firm on professionalism and use their respective platforms positively to foster national unity and development.