EDITORIAL: NBC’s N5m fine on Channels TV

Following the claims and statements made by the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Datti Baba-Ahmed on the recent outcome of the presidential election on an interview programme on Channels Television, the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has fined the station N5,000.000 ( five million naira)

The NBC  in a letter signed by its Director General, Balarabe Ilelah, on 27 March said Mr Datti’s comments on Seun Okinbaloye-anchored “Politics Today” on Wednesday, 22 March, was capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.

Ilelah who said the commission had warned Channels several times to consider the public interest before airing any of its programmes, stated that the N5m  was only in the first instance, adding that any further violations by the station would attract higher sanctions.

While we support the enforcement of the broadcasting code by the NBC and imposition of fines when necessary to serve as a deterrent, we believe that the N5m fine imposed on Channels in this instance is too harsh a penalty given the circumstances under which the alleged infringement was committed.

While the programme’s anchor tried hard to question Baba-Ahmed’s call on  President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief Justice of Nigeria not to swear in President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, which according to him will be unconstitutional, the Labour VP candidate admitted he was making an extreme statement and insisted on stating so.

The offending interview was a case of an interviewee who wanted to make a *political* point and refused to be cautioned about the implications of his statements.

A publicised stern warning and a demand for a disclaimer of the controversial claims of Baba-Ahmed by the station may have been suitable instead of a fine given that the programme was live and not pre-recorded and the anchor tried so hard to stop the interviewee.

While justifiably enforcing its code, NBC should also be careful not to be seen as penalising stations in a way that can stifle the freedom of expression of guests of broadcast stations.

Guests should also be careful of abusing the privilege they are given to express their views and not make stations to violate the broadcast codes, no matter how aggrieved they are over any issue.