The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has reacted to the suspension slammed on Channels Tv by the Nationwide Broadcasting Fee (NBC).
The Nationwide Broadcasting Fee, NBC had on Monday fined Channels TV N5million for permitting a frontrunner of the Indigenous folks of Biafra, IPOB make secessionist and inciting declarations on air with out warning.
Reacting, NUJ, in a press launch signed by its Nationwide President, Chris Isiguzo and forwarded to DAILY POST on Tuesday, referred to as on NBC to train extra restrain in coping with perceived infringements by broadcast stations within the nation.
The union described the positive imposed on Channels TV by the published regulatory company as outrageous and must be withdrawn instantly.
NUJ additional referred to as on media homes to be circumspect of their work in order to not play into the arms of overzealous politicians to destroy the nation’s democracy.
The press launch partly mentioned, “We’re particularly disturbed by the current menace to droop the published licence of Channels Tv Station for internet hosting the Spokesperson of the proscribed Indigenous Folks of Biafra (IPOB) in a reside interview programme. The positive imposed on Channels TV is outrageous and must be withdrawn instantly.
Whereas we don’t intend to hitch points with NBC, we, nevertheless, warning that threats like it will solely create pointless feuds in an already cracked society. At this very tough time within the historical past of the nation, what the nation wants extra from the published regulator is to create an avenue for extra unfettered entry by all Nigerians to impartial and free media to interact with different stakeholders, even when it’s to vent their anger and frustrations.
It’s pertinent, given current sanctions on numerous broadcast stations by NBC that the NBC code is inimical to free speech and press freedom and must be amended to be suitable with worldwide greatest practices.
Additionally it is instructive to notice that irrespective of the perceived excesses of the media, they nonetheless are germane within the quest for real democracy and must be rigorously nurtured and guarded”.
