Broadcast stations to pay N5m fine for hate speech

The Federal Government is considering raising fines for broadcast code violations from N500,000 to N5 million.

The N5 million fine will be “for breaches relating to hate speeches, inciting comments and indecency”.

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said a fresh regulation was needed to enhance broadcasting.

He said a Bill will be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to address regulatory gaps.

Mohammed spoke yesterday in Abuja when he received a report of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Reforms Implementation Committee, led by Prof. Armstrong Idachaba.

Others members are: Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, J. K. Ehicheoya, Hajia Binta Bello, Ibrahim Jimoh, Agbo Ndubuisi and Joe Mutah.

The committee, inaugurated on October 10, turned in its report within six weeks.

The minister said the commission would be mandated to amend the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Code.

One of the changes will involve raising fines from N500,000 to N5,000,000.

A station fined three times shall have its licence suspended; breach of political comments relating to hate speeches and divisive comments is to be upgraded to ”Class A” offence.

Mohammed directed NBC “to immediately come out with fresh regulations that will promote the local broadcast industry and protect the Nigerian broadcast industry from monopolistic tendencies”.

He added: “These regulations are also in the area of advertising tariffs and production of advertisements in Nigeria to ensure that all anti-competitive behaviours are deterred and sanctioned where they occur.”

The minister also tasked the NBC to “immediately come up with regulations for the broadcast of content on the internet and the web”.

“Of course, the regulations must not in any way gag the press or hinder their universal role of providing valuable information to the citizenry,” Mohammed said.

The regulations, he said, shall ensure that those who provide broadcast services on the Internet do so responsibly.

Mohammed said he would want an “upward review of fines from N500,000 to N5,000,000 for breaches relating to hate speeches, inciting comments and indecency.”