The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a strong warning to Nigerian broadcasters, cautioning that unethical conduct by presenters and anchors will attract sanctions as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
The commission raised concerns over what it described as a growing pattern of violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code across news and political programmes.
What happened
In a statement released on Friday, the NBC said it has observed a steady increase in breaches of the sixth edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
According to the commission, broadcast platforms are increasingly being used in ways that fall short of their core responsibility to provide accurate, balanced, and professional information to the public.
Concerns over presenters’ conduct
The NBC noted that some presenters and anchors now compromise neutrality by expressing personal opinions as facts and denying guests fair hearing during discussions.
It warned that such actions violate established broadcasting standards, which require impartiality and balanced representation of all sides on issues of public interest.
“Henceforth, any anchor or presenter found to have expressed personal opinion as fact, bullied or intimidated a guest, denied fair hearing to opposing views, or otherwise compromised neutrality, shall be deemed to have committed a Class B breach,” the commission stated.
Political content under scrutiny
The commission also expressed concern over the use of broadcast platforms by political actors to spread divisive and unverified claims.
It stressed that broadcasters remain fully responsible for all content aired, including live programmes, and cannot shift that responsibility to guests.
Sanctions and warning
The NBC reiterated its commitment to enforcing strict compliance with the broadcasting code, warning that violations involving hate speech, incitement, and lack of balance will attract penalties.
It urged media organisations to maintain professionalism and ensure that the airwaves are not used to spread misinformation as Nigeria moves closer to another election cycle.
