Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine on Daar Communications Group over a breach of the broadcasting code.

The fine of N500,000 comes after the NBC’s recent warning to all broadcasters in the country over debts owed to the commission.

However, the penalty imposed on Daar, which owns AIT, DaarSat and Raypower, relates to provocative and inflammatory comments on political issues, according to NBC director general Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, who added that the broadcaster had previously been warned about such conduct.

Part of the broadcast code states that a presenter should not express personal opinions while on air, nor should they use their programme to support political candidates. Broadcasters are expected to be fair in all reporting.

NBC has the power to punish breaches of the code by sanctioning or shutting down broadcasters – as was the case with the Ekiti State Broadcast Service recently.

Broadcasters are responsible for ensuring that their on-screen talent are properly trained in ethics and the code of conduct.

NBC expects Daar Communications to pay the fine within two weeks of receiving the notification of the sanction.

tagged in: Daar Communications Group, National Broadcasting Commission