A letter reportedly sent to Channels Television by the
National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, querying them
for interviewing the Governor of Benue state, Samuel
Ortom has finally emerged.
The letter, which can be seen below, the NBC queried the
TV station for violating broadcast codes by airing Ortom’s
interview which was described as ‘divisive’ and ‘inciting’.
The letter read; The National Broadcasting Commission
monitored the broadcast of your programme Sunrise Daily
between 7am and 9am on Tuesday August 24, 2021.
The programme which had as guest the Executive Governor
of Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom was observed to
contain inciting, divisive and unfair comments which were
not thoroughly interrogated by the anchors. These negate
the following provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code;
Section 1.10.4: “The Broadcaster shall ensure that its
Presenter…..shall handle it with professionalism and sound
judgment to ensure that it does not loose focus or lead to
unfair treatment or institution”
Section 3.1.1: “No broadcast shall encourage or incite to
crime, lead to public disorder or hate, be repugnant to public
feelings or contain offensive reference or organization alive
or dead…”
Section 3.3.1(b): “the broadcaster shall ensure that all sides
to any issue of public interest are equitably presented for
fairness and balance”
Section 3.3.1(e): “the broadcaster shall not treat any
individual or organization in an unjust or unfair manner”
Section 3.11.1(a): “the broadcaster shall ensure that
language….likely to encourage or incite to crime or lead to
disorder is not broadcast”.
Section 3.12.2: “the broadcaster shall not transmit a
program that incites or likely to incite to violence among the
populace, causing mass panic, political and social
upheaval, security breach and general social disorder”
Consequently, Channels Television is required to explain
why appropriate sanctions should not be applied for these
infractions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Your response
should reach the Commission within 24 hours of receipt of
this letter.
