The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned all media practitioners to stay away from being a mouthpiece for any interest group or individuals interested in peddling fake news. The Director-General of the Agency, Balarabe Shehu Illelah, issued this warning yesterday during a media parley in Abuja. Ilellah said many Television and radio stations across the country especially those owned by the government owe the commission above N4billion, a fee for licensing and license renewals. He said for stations owing license renewal fees, the commission was putting them on notice that they have until February 17, 2022, to offset their bills or face the wrath of the commission through withdrawing their license. The NBC boss called on the media practitioners to always strike balance on reporting from both sides through a critical analysis by exposing fake things from the genuine and also what is threatening societal freedom.
In his statement, “The practitioner should never be a mere mouthpiece for any interest group or groups. He or she should critically report the words and actions of both sides, subjecting them to critical analysis and exposing what is false or threatening to society and its freedoms.
He added, “We know the harm fake news, hate speech, and unprofessional broadcast has cost societies. We must be extremely cautious of the contents we put out there. The National Broadcasting Commission prides itself on professionalism, efficiency, and integrity in fulfilling its mandate as a regulator,”
He disclosed that under the government of President Buhari, the commission has granted 159 companies, institutions, and communities to operate radio and television stations in the country.
He disclosed that with the digital switchover, there would be more than 200 channels and likely over a thousand organized production outfits looking to feed the public with content.
