Fred Harrison, Abuja
Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, has described the decision by the Industry Regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast stations nationwide over indebtedness to the Commission as ill-advised and reckless.
The Union in a statement issued by the National President, NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, on Friday stressed that the action was hasty and without proper consultations.
According to the NUJ, the wholesale revocation of licenses at a critical time of insecurity in the country by the regulatory body depicts a decision taken without careful deliberation, consultation, or counsel.
NUJ, therefore, calls on NBC to exercise more restraint in the interest of national security and allow for more dialogue and consultation to find a better way of dealing with the situation.
“The, decision today by the Industry Regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission – NBC, to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast actions nationwide over-indebtedness to the Commission was ill-advised
“The affected stations, according to NBC are said to owe arrears of license fees amounting to N2.6 billion since 2015.
“In view the Director General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah claimed that this development had no political motives, yet we insist that the action was ill-timed and reckless.
“It should be noted that this wholesale revocation of licenses at this critical time of insecurity in the Country appears to be a decision taken without careful prior deliberation, consultation, or counsel.
“While we regret the inability of these broadcast stations to fulfill their obligations to NBC, given dwindling resources, we caution against such large scale clampdown of broadcast stations in disregard to security issues and the attendant consequence.
“We cannot afford the unpleasant outcome of such a media blackout at this time.
“We call on NBC to exercise more restraint on this issue in consideration of national security and allow for more dialogue and consultation to find a better way of dealing with the situation.” The statement reads.