By Innocent Onoh
In Nigeria, the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, says it will ban the idea of allowing telephone calls into live radio and television programs. The NBC is about to introduce a new code which among other measures, will scrap phone-in programs, an audience participatory program in which members of the public contribute to live radio and television programs through phone calls.
In line with the impending rule, the NBC, the government agency that regulates the broadcast industry, is seeking the collaboration of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, the country’s leading public service radio network, in establishing and sustaining professionalism in the broadcast industry, so that other stations can follow.
The Lagos Zone Director of the NBC, Mr. Mathew Okoduwa, made this known during a courtesy visit on the management of the Lagos Operations of FRCN at Broadcasting House, Ikoyi, Lagos. Mr. Okoduwa, who was accompanied by two top officials of the agency on the visit, said as the country’s pioneer radio station with a history of standards and professionalism, the FRCN should sustain the excellence that it is known for so that others could emulate it.
He hinted that in line with the coming NBC regulation, phone-in programs, especially during early hours of the day, would be banned, just as advertisements on traditional medicines and spirits would no longer be allowed. Mr. Okoduwa said in order not to mislead and incite the people as well as to support government’s effort to keep the country united, all adverts should come under strict supervision.
According to him after the code must have circulated, defaulting stations would be subjected to varying degrees of sanctions including reduction of airtime, payment of fines and withdrawal of their licenses.
Responding, the Director Lagos Operations, DLO, of the FRCN, Mr. Adeyinka Amosu, pledged that the corporation with over 40 stations under its control, would comply with all NBC regulations, thus setting the pace for others to follow.
In Mr. Amosu’s words “The collective meeting with the NBC is basically to see how we can improve on general output in our operations. Now we have some sections of Nigerians reacting indecently to issues especially during phone-in programs. If care is not taken, some people who contribute to the phone-in programs tend to say just anything not minding how sensitive the radio is in the nation.”
Mr. Amosu continued, “The NBC as a regulatory agency should be concerned and is going round to sensitize broadcast stations. But the agency recognizes the role of Radio Nigeria as the master of the airwaves. So the officials have only come to rub minds with us to further show good leadership and example. The FRCN was able to give the regulating agency an insight into its regular reorientation programs through its Knowledge Centre and its various news and enlightenment programs.
The DLO also noted that commitment to broadcast excellence in line with Radio Nigeria’s slogan, “Uplifting the people and uniting the nation”, informed management’s decision to intensify in-house training programs for the training and re-training of content providers.
