Stakeholders in Nigeria’s broadcasting sector have called for urgent reform of the country’s legislative and regulatory frameworks governing broadcasting to enable it meet up with the emerging development in the industry.
The two-day summit in Abuja, organized by the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) with support from the European Union, brought together regulators, broadcasters, civil society groups, legal professionals, media scholars, and industry experts.
Themed “Advancing the Agenda of Broadcasting Reform to Re-energise Democracy,” the summit featured discussions on the challenges and prospects of Nigeria’s broadcasting environment, with a view to strengthening democratic governance and freedom of expression.
Participants included representatives of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB).
In his keynote address, Professor Umaru Pate, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms to address the impact of digital technology, strengthen editorial independence, and ensure sustainable funding models.
Professor Pate, called for updated laws, improved content standards, innovation in business models, and professional collaboration to reposition the sector.
Six panel discussions took place during the summit, covering key topics including the review of the NBC Act, the transformation of state-owned media into public service broadcasters, and proposed memoranda for regulatory reform. The sessions hosted both in-person and virtual participants from across the industry and academia.
A major resolution from the summit was the call for harmonization of all broadcasting-related bills currently before the National Assembly, recommending that the NBC to present its reform proposals for broad-based input, and for the final authority to issue and revoke broadcast licenses to be vested in the Commission, subject to transparent procedures and judicial review.
Participants also recommended that appointments to the NBC Board and the office of Director-General should be subject to Senate confirmation stressing that such appointments should only be terminated for clearly defined reasons, including misconduct or health incapacity, with approval by a two-thirds Senate majority.
To enhance fairness in enforcement, the summit called for the establishment of an independent Broadcasting Tribunal to adjudicate complaints and infractions, while demanding that state-owned broadcasters be converted into truly public service broadcasters, with legal reforms and multiple funding sources to ensure independence and efficiency.
On funding, the summit highlighted the financial distress facing the industry and called for urgent measures including a review of the Digital Access Fee and creation of a Broadcast Media Trust Fund. They also recommended amending constitutional provisions regarding local government collection of radio and TV rates, proposing that the revenue be remitted to the NBC through the Nigeria Revenue Service.
Regarding online content regulation, stakeholders urged clarity in the legislative framework and attention to issues such as digital rights, regulatory development, and capacity building. They also called for NBC’s financial autonomy to be strengthened and for its funding to be placed on a first-line charge from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Other key recommendations included expediting the digital switchover, expanding digital reach for national broadcasters like NTA, FRCN, and VON, and improving transparency through consistent publication of industry data and enforcement actions. Stakeholders thanked the European Union and CEMESO for their support and pledged continued advocacy for reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic and media landscape.
