The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has suspended the broadcast of Dimokradiyya a
you on Radio Gotel, Yola.
It also suspended Taba Kidi Taba Karatu on Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation, Yola, with effect from Feb. 14, 2013.
The suspensions are contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by Awwalu Saliu, the Head of Public Affairs of NBC.
Gotel is owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.The statement said the suspension followed monitoring reports which indicated the frequent violation of sections 0.2.1, 3.3.1, 3.3.3, 3.4.1, 3.4.3, 3.4.7, 3.9.1, 5.3.7, of the NBC code by both stations.
“Section 3.9.1, for instance, stipulates that: language or scene likely to encourage or incite to crime or lead to disorder shall not be broadcast.
“Sections 3.3.1 of the code prescribe that: “any information given in a programme, in whatever form, shall be presented accurately
“The statement said the Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation was ordered to pay a fine of N1 million earlier imposed, within seven days, to avoid further sanctions.
“Early monitoring reports indicate that Gotel Radio has complied with the programmes suspension as expected of a professional broadcaster while Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation has yet to comply.”
“The statement warned that further sanctions might follow.
It reminded broadcasters to behave in a professionally responsible manner and avoid being partisan in their news and programmes.
The statement stressed that while a broadcaster might interact with politicians, “this shall not lead to the belief that he or she is either a member or sympathiser of any political party”.
It reiterated that broadcast organisations were expected to exercise freedom of expression as agents of society.
The statement said that such freedom was not for any personal or sectional rights, privileges and needs of their own or of their proprietors, relations, friends or supporters.
