The International Press Centre (IPC) is concerned about an April 17 notice from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to broadcasters, alleging breaches of the NBC Code in news, current affairs, and political programming.
The notice highlights issues related to anchor and presenter professionalism and the alleged misuse of broadcast platforms by political actors. It also places broadcasters on formal notice of strict enforcement, with sanctions for violations.
IPC warns that this directive may represent a renewed attempt to constrain the constitutional role of the media in promoting democratic accountability and ensuring a participatory electoral process in Nigeria.
IPC is particularly concerned about Section 1.10.3 of the NBC Code, which prohibits presenters and anchors from expressing personal opinions on air. While intended to ensure neutrality, it may limit journalistic analysis, interpretation, and contextual reporting, encouraging a more rigid form of journalism.
It also notes that several provisions of the Code, including Sections 1.10.3, 3.3.1(b), 3.4.1(a), 5.3.3(b), 3.1.1, 3.11.1(a), 5.4.1(f), 3.11.1(b), and 5.5.1(b), though intended to promote fairness and neutrality, are broadly worded and open to restrictive interpretation. If applied broadly, they may limit legitimate criticism, investigative reporting, and public debate, while encouraging self-censorship.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right guaranteed by national and international frameworks, including Section 39 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, Article 19 of the UDHR and ICCPR, Article 9 of the African Charter, and UNESCO media freedom guidelines. These instruments protect the right to express opinions and share information through any medium, including journalism, provided it is transparent and not deliberately misleading.
However, broad regulatory discretion by the NBC risks overreach, potentially undermining editorial independence, silencing dissent, and distorting the information environment.
IPC recognises the importance of professional broadcasting standards and supports efforts to curb hate speech and misinformation. It also published the Nigeria Media Code of Election Coverage, a complementary framework that guides ethical journalism during elections.
However, certain provisions of the NBC Code, particularly Section 1.10.3, may conflict with internationally accepted press freedom standards. Sanctioning journalists or presenters solely for clearly identified opinions risks infringing on their rights as individuals and media professionals.
While the NBC Code promotes the dissemination of ideas that enrich public discourse and encourage dialogue on issues of public interest, an overly restrictive interpretation of its provisions could undermine these objectives.
In a statement, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, said: “Journalists play a critical role in informing citizens, scrutinising power, and enabling the public to make informed democratic choices. Restrictions on opinion and analysis in political broadcasting may weaken this role and contribute to reduced quality of public discourse, increased information disorder, heightened electoral tensions, and potential risks to journalists’ safety.”
“Nigeria continues to face complex socio-political challenges, including insecurity, poverty, infrastructure deficits, and recurring electoral disputes. In this media and information landscape, access to accurate information and factual reporting can help de-escalate tensions nationwide, while a free and independent media remains essential to democratic stability.”
While IPC is cognisant of the importance of regulation in maintaining professionalism and preventing hate speech, it cautions that excessive regulatory reach risks transforming the NBC Code into an instrument of control rather than ethical guidance.
IPC therefore calls on the NBC to:
- Review and amend vague and overly broad provisions of the Code
- Ensure that enforcement does not suppress legitimate journalistic expression
- Protect editorial independence and analytical journalism
- Strengthen safeguards for journalists, particularly during electoral periods
- Uphold provisions that protect the rights and safety of media professionals
IPC implores the Commission, government, media regulators, and electoral stakeholders to avoid actions that may criminalise journalism or weaken the democratic role of the media.
