We’ll Not Condone Irresponsible Political Broadcasting In 2019 – NBC

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned that it will not entertain what it described as irresponsible political broadcasting as the 2019 general elections approaches.

The commission said that unlike the 2015 general elections where hate speeches almost brought calamity to the country, it would not allow such frightening dimensions polarize the country through the media in 2019.

This was revealed in Enugu on Monday at a workshop ‘Media Coverage of 2015 Elections: Challenges, Regulatory Framework and the Way Forward for a more Democratic Society,’ by the Director General of NBC, Is’haq Modibbo Kawu.

He urged broadcast media practioners to live above personal inclinations and ensure that their media outfits were not used as weapons of division and threat to national unity and democracy in the 2019 elections.

“Many discerning observers of the media landscape in general, and of broadcasting in particular, are already afraid and they are saying that unless all of us, and especially the broadcasters, sit up, Political Broadcasting in 2019, will be even more intolerant and abusive of the fundamental ethics and values of broadcasting, than what we witnessed in 2015,” Kawu said.

“Some of you allowed parties and candidates to begin campaigns ahead of the officially allowed time. On the other hand, some of you are already showing signs of partisanship.

“Your programmers biases are readily visible for all to see. Rather than act as umpires, we have thrown our hat and hearts into the ring. We compete with our guests in the effort to express our views, pretending to be experts.

“A lot of our political presenters apparently enjoy listening to the sounds of their own voices. And this seems so obvious in the manner that they rattle on and on, in their programming.

“As a regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission will not idly watch, and allow the irresponsible tendency towards the abandonment of the ethical imperatives of our profession, to push the country towards a descent into crisis.

“More than ever before, and as we approach the electioneering season that will usher in the 2019 General Elections, the Commission will ensure that broadcasters play strictly by the rules.

“In the last two quarters of 2018, the Commission has sanctioned over 50 broadcast stations – on violations related to political broadcasting and hate speech. Many have been fined and those who remain recalcitrant shall face stiffer sanctions,” he stated.