The National Broadcasting Commission met with
Mr Ahmed Isah, owner and popular host of
Brekete family programmme on the Human Rights Radio on Tuesday 26th of May,2021.
The meeting afforded Mr Isah opportunity to
explain the circumstances that led to the
unfortunate incident at his radio station where
rather than promote human rights and human
dignity, a citizen who was invited to the programmme was physically assaulted by the
broadcaster.
The National Broadcasting Commission has reviewed the events and notes the unreserved
apologies and regrets expressed by the broadcaster.
The Commission states, however, that the action of
the Broadcaster is in clear violations of the
Broadcasting Code and a betrayal of the
confidence reposed on him by the people and
Government of Nigeria on whose behalf he holds the radio license in trust.
Section 0.1.1.2.1 of the Broadcasting Commission.
provides in the Social Objectives of Broadcasting
that Broadcasting shall –
• promote generally accepted social values and norms, especially, civic and social responsibilities; and encourage respect for the dignity of man.
It also provides that Broadcasting organizations
shall recognize that they exercise freedom of
expression as agents of society, not for any personal or sectional rights, privileges of their own or of their proprietors, relatives, friends or supporters.
It is important to state that the Commission has, over the years, advised, cautioned, warned and
fined the station over repeated cases of ouright abuse, denigrating remarks,intimidation and
flagrant abuse of ethics of fairness, balance and
fair hearing on the station. It is also on record that
the Commission had conducted several training
and retraining programmes for the station and the host of the Brekete family programme, especially.
The Commission has, therefore, in line with the
sanction provisions in 15.5.2 of the Broadcasting
Code, Ordered the Suspension of license of the
Broadcaster,untill the Broadcaster commits to
ethical and professional broadcasting.
The
Suspension Order is effective Monday the 31st of May 2021, at 12.00am.
The Order shall last 30 days, during which it is
expected that the broadcaster will put its house in order and attune itself to responsive, professional
and responsible broadcasting.
It shall also pay a recommencement fee of N5 million, as
provided for in section 15.5.1 of the Broadcasting Code.
It is important to state that the Commission has over the years, advised, cautioned, warned and
fined the station over repeated cases of ouright abuse, denigrating remarks,intimidation and
flagrant abuse of ethics of fairness, balance and
fair hearing on the station. It is also on record that
the Commission had conducted several training
and retraining programmes for the station and the host of the Brekete family programme especially.
The Commission has therefore in line with the
sanction provisions in 15.5.2 of the Broadcasting
Code, Ordered the Suspension of license of the
Broadcaster,untill tbe Broadcaster commits to
ethical and professional broadcasting.The
Suspension Order is effective Monday tbe 29th oy
May 2021, at 12.00am.
The Order shall last 30 days during which it is
expected that the broadcaster will put its house in
order and attune itself to responsive, professional
and responsible broadcasting.
It shall also pay a recommencement fee of as
provided for in section 15.5.1 of It is important to state that the Commission has
over the years, advised, cautioned, warned and
fined the station over repeated cases of ouright
abuse,denigrating remarks,intimidation and
flagrant abuse of ethics of fairness, balance and
fair hearing on the station. It is also on record that
the Commission had conducted several training
and retraining programmes for the station and the
host of the Brekete family programme especially.
The
Suspension Order is effective Monday tbe 29th oy
May 2021, at 12.00am.
The NBC appreciates the popularity of the station
and the fact that it has in many cases tuned its
programming to the yearnings of the people. The
Commission however has a sacred duty to
promote decency, professionalism and respect
for dignity of all citizens by all Broadcasters in Nigeria.
