The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has fined Channels Television, AIT and Arise TV N3 million each for the coverage of EndSARS Protests carried out by young Nigerians across the country
Acting Director-General of NBC Prof Armstrong Idachaba in a press conference in Abuja announced that the sanction was necessitated by the “unprofessional coverage” of the EndSARS protests by the media houses and the crisis that followed it.
He said if the commission escalates the violations that emanated from the misuse of social media sources by broadcasters, sanctions according to the provisions of the law, NBC can comfortably shut the stations down.
Idachaba added that the stations’ offence was capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order but the option of the fine will serve as a warning to the stations and others
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned the action of NBC, describing it as illegal and a push to silence independent media and voices by Nigerian Authority
SERAP maintained that NBC must withdraw the decision because the media has a vital role to play as ‘public watchdog’ in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role.
