March 31, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has inaugurated the Governing Board of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), with a call on the commission to scale up its regulatory role ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The Minister said the 2023 election would be very tasking for the commission, because it has to work round the clock to ensure that broadcast houses abide by the codes of the commission.
Alhaji Mohammed disclosed this while inaugurating the Governing Board of NBC, on Thursday, in Abuja.
Mohammed in a statement issued by Segun Adeyemi, the Special Assistant to the President (Media), Office of the Minister of Information and Culture, said, “Please note that as we move closer to the 2023 general elections, NBC will come under increasing pressure to step up its regulatory role to prevent a repeat of what transpired before, during and after the 2019 general elections, when some broadcast stations threw caution to the wind and engaged in inciting, incendiary and unprofessional broadcasts.
“It is important for the commission to ensure that its licencees adhere strictly to the tenets of the Broadcasting Code.”
He also called on the Board to develop relevant policies that will drive the implementation of the Digital Switch Over (DSO), which is the flagship project of the NBC.
“We have an ambitious plan to fast-track the DSO this year by launching it in at least two states every month.
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet this target. But we are working hard to resume the DSO launch as soon as possible. I urge you all to buy into this project to ensure that NBC is able to deliver on what we perceive as a legacy project – because it will change the face of broadcasting in Nigeria”, Alhaji Mohammed said.
He urged the members of the new NBC Board to maintain a cordial relationship with the management, and to strictly adhere to their roles in policy formulation and refrain from getting involved in the day-to-day running of the organisation.
“Please note that the role of the board of any organisation is to formulate policies, and not to engage in the day-to-day running of the organisation.
“The Board is to evolve strategic ways of supporting the commission, so it can most effectively deliver its mandate. I therefore enjoin you all to maintain a cordial relationship with the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission to engender a smooth working relationship”, the Minister said.
He said NBC has a task to successfully transmit the broadcast industry from analogue to digital broadcasting, through the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.
“While the NBC is the implementing agency for this all-important project, a Ministerial Task Force on DSO, under my chairmanship, is driving the project. As quick background information, we launched the pilot phase of the project in Jos, Plateau State, on 30 April 2016 and, since then, we have launched the DSO here in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as in Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu, Osun, Lagos and Kano states.
“We have an ambitious plan to fast-track the DSO this year by launching it in at least two states every month. Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet this target.
“But we are working hard to resume the DSO launch as soon as possible. I urge you all to buy into this project to ensure that NBC is able to deliver on what we perceive as a legacy project – because it will change the face of broadcasting in Nigeria”, he said.
On her part, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, urged the Board to be guided by the provisions of the National Broadcasting Act, the guides to administrative procedures in the Federal Public Service, as well as the Public Service Rules.
In his remarks on behalf of the Board, the Chairman, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for finding them worthy to serve.
He pledged the readiness of the Board members to work with the management of the NBC as well as the Ministerial Task Force on the DSO to ensure the success of the project.
The inauguration of the Board was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr Ifeoma Adaora Anyanwutaku, and the Senator representing Adamawa Central, Hajia Aisha Dahiru, among other dignitaries.
Other members of the Board are Mr Wada Asab Ibrahim, Mr Iheanyichukwu Azubike Dike, Mrs Adesola Oyinloye Ndu, Mr Olaniyan Olatunji Badmus, Mr Bashir Ibrahim, Mr Obiora Ilo, Mr Ahmad Sajo, Engr Bayo Erikitola, Mr Peter Afunanya, the representative of the Department of State Services, Dr Musbau Kayode, representing the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the NBC Director-General, Alhaji Balarabe Ilelah.
