N5bn debt: Pay your operating licence for or or lose it - NBC warns broadcast stations

According to National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, some broadcast stations have refused to pay for the licence fees to operate in the country which amounts to N5 billion.

Following their refusal to pay the fee, the commission has issued a three-week ultimatum to all defaulted stations in the country to pay or face sanctions.

The Director-General of the NBC in person of Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, issued the cautionary statement at a meeting with the broadcast stakeholders in Abuja, on Wednesday.

He said, “There are very worrisome issues in our operations. The first is the situation where many stations have refused to pay their licence fees; even the statutory act of informing the NBC six months before the expiration of licence and signifying intention to continue as a licensee is ignored.

“Our licensees carry on as if they have their licenses for keeps and the NBC cannot withdraw licences. It is important to remind us all that all licences are provisional, no matter how long you have held them. And for emphasis, I want to let you know that stations are owing over N5 billion as licence fees.

“I will like to use this medium to inform you that the NBC would be invoking the relevant laws against erring stations. Consequently, all stations without exception are expected to complete all payments owed the commission by March 15, 2017.”

Pertaining defaulting transmitters, Kawu noted the commission was likewise bothered over increase in rate of illegal use of transmission power by stations all over Nigeria. He said, some stations acquire transmitters and neglecting the stipulated and recommended transmitter power in city based FM stations.

He stated that: “The consequence of this is that we have frequency clashes occurring all over 

Nigeria. As at yesterday, we have compiled a total of 69 stations around Nigeria that have installed transmitters beyond the transmitter power stipulated in their licences, and that is not even exhaustive.

“Henceforth, no broadcaster would be allowed to import a transmitter beyond the power allotted in the licences issued. Second, stations must ensure that their broadcasts are limited to assigned areas only; and where these areas require less than 2KW power, they must tune their transmitters below 2KW.

“All stations that have installed more than allotted TX power are hereby put on notice, that they have six months to procure and install 2KW transmitters. After the expiration of this grace period, we will ensure the de-commissioning of the transmitters installed beyond the allotted TX power.”

Speaking on hate speech, he said the commission had made some move to expose tendencies that could lead to hate-speech in the sector in general,

“I will like to draw your attention to the dangerous trend of hate speech that has become a major problem in our country today. Broadcasters are beginning to abdicate our gatekeeping role; there are too many stray dogs around the house now; our stations must not be arenas for inciting and hate speech that can endanger the good order of our country.”

“Broadcasting must promote pluralism and decency, as well as help to deepen the content of Nigeria’s democracy. We must not divide Nigeria. If we have forgotten, radio became a medium that helped to trigger the tragic genocide in Rwanda.

“We must use broadcasting here as a platform of national development. At the NBC, we are collaborating with the Savannah Center for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, to expose tendencies towards hate speech in the Nigerian media in general, and in the broadcasting industry in particular.’’ He explained.