The Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria and Chairman, Channels Media Group, Mr John Momoh, has asked the National Broadcasting Commission to review the payment of annual levy and turnover made by broadcast stations in the country.

Mr Momoh, who was addressing participants at a four-day stakeholders code review retreat in Kano, explained that the BON’s recommendations were made based on the belief that the NBC would encourage, protect and truly cooperate with the stations.

He added, “We propose that the current definition section be expanded to include more detailed guidelines, in addition to covering definitions that are currently missing such as annual income, the meaning of Grade A Breach, broadcast operatives, regulatory agency among other things that require proper interpretation section.”

On his part, the Director General of the NBC, Ishaq Modibbo, believes that in order to ensure professionalism in broadcasting, the code has to be reviewed in line with Nigeria’s political aspirations and is expected to serve as a central document to keep professionals in check.

“We intend to produce a guiding document for professional engagement in Nigerian broadcasting that will turn out to be a document for effective use of new technology in tune with the nation’s political aspirations,” he said.

According to the Kano State Government, the review of the code comes at a when most local broadcast radio stations consistently breach the provisions of various sections of the Code, which include disregards for constituted authorities and unguarded comments that pose nothing but a threat to peace and stability of the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, urged the NBC to continue to pay close attention to the activities of some broadcasters in Kano.

Broadcasters from across Nigeria gathered in Kano State to review the nation’s Broadcasting Code in line with the realities of the new era in the broadcast industry. (Channels TV)