LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a strong warning to radio and television stations, citing a rise in unethical behavior among presenters as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
Raising alarm over declining media standards, the commission in a statement on Friday warned presenters to follow strict rules or face sanctions. The NBC, through its Public Affairs Department cited a drop in professional standards, especially in news and political programmes, stressing that some presenters are no longer following basic journalism principles such as fairness, balance and neutrality.
More specifically, the NBC pointed to cases where programme anchors present personal opinions as facts, fail to give equal space to opposing views, or allow harmful and divisive comments to air during live shows. These practices, it said, weaken public trust in the media.
According to the commission, such conduct will now attract stricter penalties. They maintained that any presenter found guilty will face sanctions under the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“Henceforth, any anchor or presenter found to have expressed personal opinion as fact, bullied or intimidated a guest, denied fair hearing to opposing views, or otherwise compromised neutrality, shall be deemed to have committed a Class B breach,” the statement read.
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Furthermore, the NBC emphasized that media organizations, not guests are fully responsible for everything broadcast on their platforms, even during live programmes. They reiterated that broadcasters cannot shift blame when violations occur.
The regulator explained that this warning follows a steady increase in breaches, raising concerns that some stations are being used to spread misinformation rather than inform the public accurately.
In addition, the commission expressed concern about political actors using broadcast platforms to push content that could incite unrest, promote hate speech or threaten national unity.
Reinforcing its position, the NBC said it will strictly enforce compliance with the broadcasting code. Any content considered inflammatory, misleading or divisive will face appropriate sanctions.
With political activities expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, the commission called on broadcasters to act responsibly, maintain ethical standards and ensure that their platforms promote credible information while strengthening national unity.
