NBC denies accusing Buhari’s supporters of violating broadcasting code

Malam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, Director-General, National
Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ), on Saturday in Abuja denied
accusing some supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari of violating
Broadcasting Code.

Kawu, in a statement expressed dismay about sensational and
incorrect report circulating on the internet, describing it as
embarrassing misrepresentations and claims.

“The attention of the Management of the National Broadcasting
Commission ( NBC ) has been drawn to a sensational and incorrect
report circulating on the internet.

“That the Director-General of the Commission, Malam Ishaq
Modibbo Kawu, accused some supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari
of violating the Broadcasting Code, among other embarrassing
misrepresentations and claims.

“To set the record straight, and for the avoidance of any doubt,
the NBC organised a Stakeholders Forum on Political Broadcasts,
which held on Thursday, Oct. 26 in Kano State.

“The choice of this location in Kano were both necessary and
strategic, given the fact that Kano is the most populous state in
Nigeria with over 20 operating broadcast establishments as well as
the observed spike in hate speech within the environment.”

He, therefore, appealed to both the traditional and on-line
media to uphold the guiding tenets of journalism profession through
objective, factual and decent reportage.

“This has been the time-tested practice and should remain the
irreducible minimum gold-standard in our media practice.”

Kawu explained that the law establishing NBC specifies that
regulating the Industry was a core function of the commission in
order to ensure decent, objective and factual reportage by all
Operators.

According to him, this resonates with the expressed
determination and policy thrust of the present administration to
eliminate hate and incendiary speeches and broadcasts across all
levels of society.

“It was against this background that the Director General of the
Commission, in his address in Kano, alluded to the escalating spate
of hate speech in political broadcasts.

“And the imperative for broadcast operators to be vigilant and
be guided by the broadcasting code in their operations.”

He lamented instances where political actors often misconstrue
the statutory role of NBC as an Industry regulator to be impeding
and restricting their political activities, making such actors to
reach out to contacts in high levels of government for undue
political interference and advantage.

“In making this observation, the director-general drew several
examples across political and regional boundaries to justify the
assertion.

“It is therefore, grossly untrue and mischievous to misrepresent
the remarks of the Director-General of the NBC at a Forum in Kano
that he made an exclusive accusation targeted against Buhari’s
supporters”.

Kawu restated that the position of NBC on hate speech and other
incendiary broadcasts remained consistent with the overarching
principles and rules of global best-practice.

NAN

Malam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, Director-General, National
Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ), on Saturday in Abuja denied
accusing some supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari of violating
Broadcasting Code.

Kawu, in a statement expressed dismay about sensational and
incorrect report circulating on the internet, describing it as
embarrassing misrepresentations and claims.

“The attention of the Management of the National Broadcasting
Commission ( NBC ) has been drawn to a sensational and incorrect
report circulating on the internet.

“That the Director-General of the Commission, Malam Ishaq
Modibbo Kawu, accused some supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari
of violating the Broadcasting Code, among other embarrassing
misrepresentations and claims.

“To set the record straight, and for the avoidance of any doubt,
the NBC organised a Stakeholders Forum on Political Broadcasts,
which held on Thursday, Oct. 26 in Kano State.

“The choice of this location in Kano were both necessary and
strategic, given the fact that Kano is the most populous state in
Nigeria with over 20 operating broadcast establishments as well as
the observed spike in hate speech within the environment.”

He, therefore, appealed to both the traditional and on-line
media to uphold the guiding tenets of journalism profession through
objective, factual and decent reportage.

“This has been the time-tested practice and should remain the
irreducible minimum gold-standard in our media practice.”

Kawu explained that the law establishing NBC specifies that
regulating the Industry was a core function of the commission in
order to ensure decent, objective and factual reportage by all
Operators.

According to him, this resonates with the expressed
determination and policy thrust of the present administration to
eliminate hate and incendiary speeches and broadcasts across all
levels of society.

“It was against this background that the Director General of the
Commission, in his address in Kano, alluded to the escalating spate
of hate speech in political broadcasts.

“And the imperative for broadcast operators to be vigilant and
be guided by the broadcasting code in their operations.”

He lamented instances where political actors often misconstrue
the statutory role of NBC as an Industry regulator to be impeding
and restricting their political activities, making such actors to
reach out to contacts in high levels of government for undue
political interference and advantage.

“In making this observation, the director-general drew several
examples across political and regional boundaries to justify the
assertion.

“It is therefore, grossly untrue and mischievous to misrepresent
the remarks of the Director-General of the NBC at a Forum in Kano
that he made an exclusive accusation targeted against Buhari’s
supporters”.

Kawu restated that the position of NBC on hate speech and other
incendiary broadcasts remained consistent with the overarching
principles and rules of global best-practice.

NAN