The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says it plans to increase the licence fee of television and radio stations.
The Director-General, Balareba Shehu Ilelah, who disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, also said the commission will soon meet with stakeholders in the broadcasting industry to review the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“We’ll seek contributions from all stakeholders in the industry to review the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. We also considering an upward review of broadcast licence for TV and radio stations,” he said.
According to him, said NBC as a regulator would ensure that the broadcast media performed their roles as required by the law.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Yemisi Bamgbose, advised NBC against hiking broadcast licence fees now.
“Let me appeal to the DG and of course the NBC not to increase the licence fee now. Broadcasters are already going through a very difficult time. So, I don’t think this is the best time to increase their licence fee or any other fees at all,” he said.
