The Federal Government on Tuesday raised the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to 5 million naira,
The government also mandated broadcast stations to devote airtime for public education and enlightenment on emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, made this known in Lagos on Tuesday while unveiling the Reviewed Broadcasting Code.
This was contained in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, titled, ‘Remarks By The Hon. Minister Of Information And Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, At The Unveiling Of The Reviewed Broadcasting Code In Lagos On Tuesday, Aug. 4th 2020’.
According to the statement made available on the social media platforms of the ministry, Mohammed said the amendments were necessitated by a Presidential directive, in the wake of the 2019 general elections, for an inquiry into the regulatory role of the National Broadcasting Commission as well as the conduct of the various broadcast stations before, during and after the elections.
The minister noted that the recommendations were approved by the President Mohammed Buhari to reposition the NBC to perform its regulatory role better mostly in the areas of political broadcasting, local content, coverage of emergencies, advertising, and anti-competitive behaviour.
Mohammed, who explained that section 2h of the NBC Act empowers the Commission to establish and disseminate a National
Broadcasting Code, said, “There are many desirable provisions in the new Broadcasting Code:
“The provisions on Exclusivity and Monopoly will boost local content and local industry due to laws prohibiting exclusive use of rights by broadcasters who intend to create monopolies and hold the entire market to themselves. It will encourage Open Access to premium content.
“The law prohibiting backlog of advertising debts will definitely promote sustainability for the station owners and producers of content.
