A human rights group decried the persistent attempt by National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to muzzle the exercise of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, including attempting to force broadcasting stations not to feature critics or Nigerians with divergent views from those of the persons in government of the day.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) said, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Sunday, that the move by NBC must be actively resisted by all and sundry so that Nigeria’s democracy would not be imperiled.

The rights group accused the NBC of working with reactionary elements to scuttle democracy and institute absolute monarchical type of governance in this 21^st century Nigeria. Nigerians, it said, should and must actively resist this negative forces bent on scuttling the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms by the Nigerian citizens. It therefore cautioned the NBC not to continuously behave as though it was being teleguided, manipulated and mechanically remote-controlled by haters of democracy, free speech and constitutionalism.

It also reminded the hierarchy of the NBC to take cognisance of the fact that the grund norm or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was supreme and bigger than any public office holders, and that since the NBC was set up by a legislative template, it shouldn’t be seen attempting crudely to revoke the constitutional freedoms enshrined copiously in Chapter 4 of the Constitution, including freedom of information.

It said the Constitution In section 22 empowered the media to do the duty of a vanguard and conscience of the nation and monitor the behaviours of public institutions and public office holders to ensure that the rule of law, respect for constitutionalism and fundamental freedoms recognised internationally under the Universal Declarations of Human Rights (UDHR), the African Charter on people’s and human rights, the international covenant on civil and political rights and a plethora of international human rights treaties, were obeyed.

HURIWA recalled that last weekend, the head of the NBC said he has given the operators of Arise Television final warning on alleged violation of Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Director-General of NBC, Balarabe Shehu llelah, who since his appointment by President Muhammed Buhari, gave the warning in a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Arise Global Limited.

“This letter once again seeks to underscore the tremendous responsibility put on the broadcaster to manage array of guests that may feature on the station from time to time. “For the benefit of doubt, on Oct. 5 during the programme – ‘The Morning Show’, anchored by Reuben Abati, Rufai Useni and Ayo Mairo Ese, featured Oladotun Hassan and Dele Farotimi as guests. “The programme contained unguarded incendiary remarks by Dele Farotimi against the legislature, executive, judiciary and Mr President. “Similarly, On Oct. 6, during the programme “Newsday”, it featured Kenneth Okonkwo (Spokesperson for Labour Party) who used derogatory remarks on air. “Your attention is therefore drawn to the relevant sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code for compliance please,” Ilelah said.

“Arise TV is advised to install a delay mechanism to guard against possible undesirable contents as prescribed in Section 5.5.6 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Please note that henceforth, your station shall be held liable for any infraction on your platform and applicable sanctions shall be imposed as prescribed by Law,” Ilelah stressed.

HURIWA however faulted the undemocratic position of NBC just as it stated that the provisions of the constitution that guarantees fundamental freedoms could not be destroyed arbitrarily by an agency of government that was attempting to assume the role of the accused and the judge in the same matter. “Television, Broadcasting stations as well as the print media are essential agencies that are set up to act individually and collectively as the conscience of the nation under section 22 of the Constitution, HURIWA said, adding that the nation’s law books are replete with media laws on defamation which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could exercise his fundamental human rights as a citizen to institute a suit against any station he thinks has defamed him.

According to the rights group, the NBC as a publicly funded agency was not the megaphone or private ‘house-boy’ of President Bola Tinubu to start monitoring which programmes on TV has defamed the person of the President or the other.

“As President, Tinubu is to be subjected to the highest public scrutiny possible and can’t hide under privacy laws to escape critical questions concerning the academic credentials he tendered to run for public office.

“Those who are in the kitchen and are disturbed by the heat should quit and not misuse public power to muzzle the rights of TV stations im carrying out their job,” the group stated.

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