- By Halimah Olamide
The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has warned one of the leading broadcast channels in the country, the Arise Television against the use of derogatory and incendiary remarks on air.
NBC’s warning came against the backdrop of controversies around President Bola Tinubu’s academic records recently released by the Chicago State University.
In a bid to educate the public on the possible consequences of the president’s certificate, which the opposition alleged does not tally with the one submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for the last election, the TV station has had interviews with a number of guests.
But NBC, in a letter issued to the TV station by its Director General, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, on Friday, expressed worry that some of the guests use derogatory words during interviews.
The broadcast regulator urged Arise TV to have a delay mechanism to guard against undesirable contents, saying guests should always be kept in check.
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.
“The station 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 NBC has the constitutional authority to regulate activities of broadcast media in Nigeria.