NUJ tells NBC Revoking Ait, Silverbird, others Licences is ill-advised and too hasty

NewsContinental

The National Body of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, ably led by the National President, Comrade Chris Isiguizo has called on the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to retract its hasty decision to shutdown Ait, SilverBird and other broadcasting stations at this crucial state of the Nation security challenges.

The NUJ National President, maintained that, the decision today, by the Industry Regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast stations nationwide over indebtedness to the Commission was ill advised.

According to NBC, the affected stations are said to owe arrears of licence fees amounting to N2.6 billon since 2015.

Comrade Isiguizo stated that, although the Director General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah claimed that this development had no political motives, yet we insisted that the action was ill timed and reckless.

“It should be noted that this wholesome revocation of licences at this critical time of insecurity in the Country appears to be a decision taken without careful prior deliberation, consultation or counsel” the President said.

Isiguizo said “While we regret the inability of these broadcast stations to fulfill their obligations to NBC, in-view of dwindling resources, we caution against such large scale clampdown of broadcast stations in disregard to security issues and the attendant consequence”

He added that the Union cannot overlook the unpleasant outcome of such media blackout at this time.

“We call on NBC to exercise more restraint on this issue in consideration of national security and allow for more dialogue and consultation to find a better way of dealing with the situation” Isiguizo concluded.