NBC Cautions Media Organisations on 2011 Political Coverage

Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, director general, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned media houses against taking sides on political coverage during next years’ general elections.
Bolarinwa, who gave the caution while briefing newsmen on the performance of the commission in its 18 years of existence, said the organisation has set in motion mechanisms for the fourth review of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code to make it more democratic and for it to be abreast of developments in the industry.
He said any broadcast station found to exhibit unprofessional act in its operations during and after the up-coming general elections would be duly sanctioned.
"We all know how powerful the media is," he said. "There is every need to guard against taking sides in our coverage of political activities. Taking sides is unprofessional. It will cause us to lose credibility and become the casualty of the war for votes by politicians.
"To safeguard against such incidences, NBC Code has professionally and internationally acceptable guidelines on political broadcast during the electioneering campaigns. And the commission is ready to enforce the provisions of the Code.
We have been engaging stations and the public through workshops and dialogue, and where necessary through sanctions".
Bolarinwa advised operators of the stations that as broadcasters, they must recognise their responsibility to ensure that make the 2011 general elections credible, free and fair through their coverage and programmes.
According to the DG, broadcasting stations should also help to promote the quest for credible elections by popularizing the principle of "one man, one vote" through their programme presentations.
Speaking on the achievements recorded by the commission since its inception in 1992, Bolarinwa said as at today there are a total of 350 functional broadcasting stations, made up of 123 private radio stations, 33 private MMDS stations, 13 DTH stations and 233 government-owned radio and television stations.
He said the increasing number of broadcasting stations has offered Nigerians a reasonable degree of choice from a variety of channels and programmes as well as a right to quality broadcasting.
"The commission has confronted cultural imperialism, which has been the bane of effective broadcasting in Nigeria. This we did by insisting on our policy of 100% local content, on all terrestrial stations during the family belt, from 7 to 10pm", he said.