The National Broadcasting Commission has suspended the revocation of the licenses of 52 broadcast organizations in the country.
The NBC suspended the revocation following the intervention of of the Nigerian Chapter of the International Press Institute.
IPI Nigeria President, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, announced the reprieved on the revocation of the affected broadcast Organisations in a statement on Saturday.
The Director General of the NBC, Mallam Balarabe Ilela had on Friday revoked the broadcast licences of about 50 media houses including Silverbird TV, AIT, Raypower FM, Rhythm FM and others for failing to renew their licenses to the tune of N2.6 billion debt.
Following the intervention of IPI, the NBC relaxed the revocation to give the affected broadcast houses a deadline of August 23, to pay up the debts.
“We are glad to report that the Director General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilela, has graciously agreed to grant an extension on compassionate ground,” IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, said on Saturday.
“Even though this is a temporary relief, we are hopeful that all parties will engage in the next few days with a view to arriving at a lasting resolution of the matter.
“We thank the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Mallam Illela for listening to us and allowing a window for dialogue.
“During our engagement with the Commission, the NBC explained that the commission had in the past granted several concessions to broadcast organisations, including writing off substantial parts of their debts and engaging them consistently to fulfill their financial obligations to the regulator.
“We implore the affected broadcasting organisations to take advantage of this window of opportunity by reaching out to the NBC.
“Nobody benefits when broadcasting stations are shut down. Members of the public have come to rely on these stations to know what their governments are doing to keep them safe in this challenging security environment.
“Other governments’ policies are also disseminated to the public through these channels.
“In view of the nation’s economic downturn, we further appeal to the affected broadcast stations and the NBC to agree a workable payment arrangement of the outstanding dues.” The IPI statement read
