NBC Issues November Deadline for Stations’ Audited Accounts

The Managements of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (Bon) have issued a November 30, 2009 deadline for all broadcast stations to submit their audited accounts for the last 17 years.
Federal Government stations are to submit theirs from 1990 when the NBC Law was amended to effectively include them.
The agreement was reached at a meeting between the NBC and Bon, held at the Commission’s headquarters earlier this month.
The Commission also expressed concern over the non payment of the 2.5 percent on the income of broadcast stations that is due to it.
Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, director-general, NBC, said that since the Commission came into existence 17 years ago, very few licensees, mostly cable operators, have neither submitted an audited account report to the NBC nor paid 2.5 percent of their income to the Commission as stipulated by law.
Abubakar Jijiwa, chairman, Bon, in his response noted some of the difficulties encountered by broadcasters, including power and inflation, while assuring the Commission full compliance by its member stations.