The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has released a strong warning to Arise Television against the use of derogatory and incendiary remarks in its station.
In a warning letter dated October 6, 2023, and signed by NBC’s Director-General, Dr Balarabe Ilelah, the Commission urged the TV station to install a delay mechanism to avoid unwanted content.
It was gathered that the warning is coming as a result of the controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s academic records recently released by the Chicago State University.
The TV station has conducted interviews with various guests to inform the public about the potential consequences of the president’s certificate, which the opposition claims doesn’t match the one submitted to INEC for the last election.
NBC, in the letter expressed worry that some of the guests use derogatory words during interviews.
The letter titled: “Preponderance of derogatory and incendiary remarks: final warning” reads in part: “The NBC has observed with concern, the preponderance of incendiary remarks allowed on Arise news.
This letter seeks to underscore the tremendous responsibility put on the broadcaster to manage the array of guests who may feature on the station from time to time.
“The commission listed the station’s morning show programme on 5th October anchored by Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Maio-Ese, which featured Oladokun Hassan and Dele Farotimi as guests.
The programme contained unguarded incendiary remarks by Dele Farotimi against the Legislature and the Executive, the Judiciary and Mr. President
Arise TV was also accused of not keeping to its responsibility while airing its programme ” Newsday” which featured Kenneth Okonkwo, (Spokesperson of Labour Party) who used derogatory remarks on air.
“The commission, therefore, drew the attention of the broadcast station to broadcast rule and code 1.10.3, 3.3.1(a), 3.3.3(c), 3.3.1 (e), 5.3.3(b) and 5.5.6.
“Arise TV is advised to install a delay mechanism to guard against undesirable contents as prescribed in section 5.5.6 of the broadcasting code.
The warning comes eight months after the Commission fined Arise TV N2m for breaching Nigeria’s broadcasting codes.
|Daily Post
