This development comes as NBC considers an upward review of the license fees for television and radio stations. The disclosure was made by NBC's Director General, Malam Balareba Shehu Ilelah, during a press conference held in Lagos.
While the press conference was primarily focused on announcing the upcoming African broadcast exhibition (Africast) scheduled for October, Ilelah emphasised the need to review the broadcast code after obtaining inputs from industry stakeholders. "We will seek contributions from all stakeholders in the industry to review the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. We are also considering an upward review of the broadcast license for TV and radio stations," stated the NBC DG.
Ilelah further emphasised that NBC, as the regulatory body, is committed to ensuring that the broadcast media fulfils its obligations as required by law. However, during the press conference, Dr Yemisi Bamgbose, the Executive Secretary of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), cautioned against increasing license fees at this time.
Bamgbose pointed out that the broadcast industry in the country is currently in dire need of support and that increasing license fees or any additional fees could have a detrimental impact on many stations. "Let me appeal to the DG and, of course, the NBC not to increase the license fee now. Broadcasters are already going through a very difficult time, so I don't think this is the best time to increase their license fee or any other fees at all," stated the BON Executive Secretary.
It is worth noting that the current Nigeria Broadcast Code, which was initially issued in 2016 and amended in 2020, contains rules and regulations that govern the industry and its practitioners in the country. The upcoming review of the code will provide an opportunity to address emerging challenges and ensure that the broadcasting sector remains aligned with evolving industry standards and practices.