Various organisations have condemned the sanctions imposed on privately owned Channels TV by the Nigerian government, calling for an immediate reversal.
Condemnations for the action have come from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, or SERAP, the Guild of Editors, and the opposition People’s Democratic Party.
The National Broadcasting Commission on Monday announced Channels’ suspension and imposition of a N5 million five for featuring on its live programme Mr. Emmanuel Powerful, the spokesman for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, who allegedly made inciting statements.
NBC ordered the immediate suspension of the programme.
SERAP has urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the NBC to immediately reverse the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal decision to suspend Channels Television, as well as the N5m fine imposed on the station.
SERAP’s demand was made through a statement signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP Deputy Director on Monday.
The Acting Director-General of NBC, Professor Armstrong Idachaba in a letter to the Managing Director of Channels Television had referred to Channels’ 7 pm live broadcast programme on Sunday, 25th April 2021, in which it accused the TV station of interviewing the spokesman IPOB.
SERAP noted that the commission took the action without “caution or reprimand.”
But SERAP in a statement today by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said:
“The suspension of Channels Television is unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, and without any legal basis whatsoever. The government and NBC should immediately lift the suspension and reverse the fine. We will pursue appropriate legal action if the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal suspension and fine are not reversed within 48 hours,” SERAP said.
“This action by the government and NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities’ push to silence independent media and voices. The government and NBC lift the suspension and uphold the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom.
Continuing, the organization noted that: “This is a new low in Nigeria’s protection of freedom of expression, and the ability of independent media to function in the country. The suspension of Channels Television is detrimental to media freedom, and access to information, and the Federal Government and NBC must immediately reverse the decision.”
“Media freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression and access to information. The ability to practice journalism free from undue interference, to cover diverse views are crucial to the exercise of many other rights and freedoms.”
“The media has a vital role to play as ‘public watchdog’ in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role. The Federal Government and NBC should stop targeting and intimidating independent media and voices.”
“The government of President Buhari has a responsibility to protect Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information.”
“This suspension amounts to an arbitrary and unjust application of regulations against the media. International standards allow only official restrictions on the content of what the media can broadcast or print in extremely narrow circumstances.”
“Article 20 (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Nigeria has ratified requires states to prohibit only advocacy that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. Restrictions must be clearly defined, specific, necessary, and proportionate to the threat to interest protected.”
“President Muhammadu Buhari should caution the NBC to stop intimidating and harassing independent media houses and to respect the Nigerian Constitution, and the country’s international human rights obligations, including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
On its part, the PDP noted that without prejudice to the issues raised against Channels, the haste with which the clampdown was taken, without the benefit of caution, was smacked of intolerance and high-handedness by the NBC.
“Our party is worried that such disposition could be counter-productive and heighten the already tensed situation in our nation at this critical time.
“The PDP therefore urges the NBC to review the punitive measure on the media house as well as scale up system-friendly measure that will ensure best practices in information dissemination in our country”, the party said.
The Guild of Editors also berated the government suspension order, pointing out that it will not stand by and watch media houses being threatened by regulatory agencies in the country.
“Press freedom is threatened when media houses are made to operate in an atmosphere of fear,” the Guild said.
“The Guild stands with Channels and will go to any length to defend press freedom in the country.
“The body of editors believes that the NBC is guilty of double standards because stations that carried Sheikh Gumi’s parley with terrorists in their camps, were not sanctioned by the commission.
“The NBC should jettison the practice of issuing threats to broadcast stations over matters that could easily be dealt with through dialogue.
“Democracy will be meaningless in Nigeria if press freedom is eroded,” NGE noted..
