‘NBC Not Scared To Summon Violators Of Broadcasting Code’

*Says We’re not suppressing press freedom

Anyone who violates the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
code should be ready for summoning, the commission has said.

NBC stressed that it is not scared to call any violator of its
code to question whenever a breach occurs.

The commission’s Director General Balarabe Ilelah, who said this
on Monday in Abuja, urged media platforms to adhere to its
regulations in national interest.

Ilelah, who spoke when members of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) visited the commission’s office in Abuja, said
the NBC would continue to regulate and sanitise the media.

He said: “As leaders of your various reputable and responsible
organisation, I want you to tell your members that nobody is above
the law.

“All of us must live within the coverage of the law and we must
be held accountable. Journalism is a profession that has ethics, we
are supposed to operate within the ethics of the profession.

“You came to the commission based on some reports from the
social media. As a journalist, I know that news coming from social
media are not verified and normally when you get information from
anywhere, you need to verify the source of the news.

“But when the news had no source and then you went again and
keep on spreading the news, that is not journalism.

“We are going to keep on fighting people that are spreading fake
news, the commission will not be scared and will keep on summoning
anyone who goes contrary to NBC code.

“NBC is not here to suppress press freedom, but to guide the
press. Our duty is to make sure that everybody is given a fair
playing ground so that you can say whatever you want to say that is
according to the law.”

*Says We’re not suppressing press freedom

Anyone who violates the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
code should be ready for summoning, the commission has said.

NBC stressed that it is not scared to call any violator of its
code to question whenever a breach occurs.

The commission’s Director General Balarabe Ilelah, who said this
on Monday in Abuja, urged media platforms to adhere to its
regulations in national interest.

Ilelah, who spoke when members of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) visited the commission’s office in Abuja, said
the NBC would continue to regulate and sanitise the media.

He said: “As leaders of your various reputable and responsible
organisation, I want you to tell your members that nobody is above
the law.

“All of us must live within the coverage of the law and we must
be held accountable. Journalism is a profession that has ethics, we
are supposed to operate within the ethics of the profession.

“You came to the commission based on some reports from the
social media. As a journalist, I know that news coming from social
media are not verified and normally when you get information from
anywhere, you need to verify the source of the news.

“But when the news had no source and then you went again and
keep on spreading the news, that is not journalism.

“We are going to keep on fighting people that are spreading fake
news, the commission will not be scared and will keep on summoning
anyone who goes contrary to NBC code.

“NBC is not here to suppress press freedom, but to guide the
press. Our duty is to make sure that everybody is given a fair
playing ground so that you can say whatever you want to say that is
according to the law.”