Monday, April 20, 2026 - Human rights organization, Amnesty International and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project have strongly criticized a recent directive issued by the National Broadcasting Commission, describing it as an attempt to stifle press freedom and impose unlawful restrictions on journalists.
The directive has generated controversy since it was
released by the commission on April 17, 2026.
The notice warned broadcasters against actions such as
expressing personal opinions, allegedly intimidating guests, or failing to
maintain neutrality, citing a rise in breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting
Code.
In a statement on Sunday, Amnesty International faulted
NBC’s “formal notice to broadcasters.”
Its Nigeria’s Executive Director, Isa Sanusi, said the move
undermined the independence of the media and violated international human
rights standards.
“Nigeria’s vibrant broadcast media, whose editorial
independence enables citizens to freely seek, receive, and impart information,
is protected under instruments like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” Sanusi
said.
He urged Nigerian authorities to halt what he described as
an “unrelenting quest to silence journalists,” stressing that independent and
diverse media were essential to safeguarding the public’s right to information.
Amnesty International further described the NBC’s directive
as authoritarian and unconstitutional, insisting that the commission lacked the
power to dictate how journalists carry out their duties.
The organization called on broadcasters to continue
operating fiercely and independently without fear.
“The latest threat issued by NBC is authoritarian and
unconstitutional. Broadcasters must continue doing their job fiercely and
independently without fear.
“Broadcasters must continue doing their job fiercely and
independently without fear,” the statement said.
Also, SERAP urged President Bola Tinubu to order the
immediate withdrawal of the directive, describing it as unlawful and a threat
to press freedom.
In a letter dated April 18, 2026, and signed by its Deputy
Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation called on the President to
instruct the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, and the NBC to reverse
the notice.
SERAP said, “The NBC’s notice represents a dangerous attempt
to impose prior censorship on the media and suppress legitimate journalistic
expression.”
The group also asked the government to “abstain from
imposing prior censorship on broadcast stations and Nigerian journalists,
including presenters and to allow them to freely carry out their constitutional
responsibilities.”
SERAP described such provisions as vague and
unconstitutional, stressing that, “The Nigerian Constitution and international
human rights law protect both the absolute right to hold opinions and the
qualified right to express ideas of all kinds.”
The organisation further criticised Section 1.10.3 of the
Broadcasting Code, noting, “This amounts to prior restraint that impermissibly
excludes commentary, analysis, and value judgments, the core of journalism and
democratic discourse.”
SERAP maintained that the NBC’s reliance on broad and
unclear provisions risked arbitrary enforcement and could stifle critical
reporting, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The threat of sanctions for broadly defined conduct creates
a chilling effect on journalists and broadcasters, thereby undermining
constitutional guarantees,” the group said.
It warned that failure to act could trigger legal action,
stating, “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48
hours.
“If we have not heard from your government and the NBC by
then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel compliance.”
0 Comments