NBC Sanctions Human Rights Radio 

NBC has sanctioned human rights radio for recurring unprofessional conducts.

Gatekeepers News reports that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has suspended Human Rights Radio for violating the broadcasting code.

This follows the action of the Brekete Family Show presenter, Ahmed Isah popularly known as Ordinary President who slapped a lady accused of setting her brother’s daughter on fire. His action was greeted with mixed reaction and he had also apologised.

On Thursday, the NBC said he met with the Ordinary President on Tuesday and “has reviewed the events and notes 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 Code 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 organisations shall recognize that they exercise freedom of expression as agents of society, not for any personal or sectional rights, privileges and needs 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 outright 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.

Gatekeepers News reports that the Commission ordered the suspension of the station’s licence for 30 days, effective from May 31, “until the broadcaster commits to ethical and professional broadcasting.”

“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 as provided for in section 15.5.1 of the Broadcasting Code at the end of the suspension period,” the NBC added.