The
National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has revoked the licence of 54 television
and radio stations over nonpayment of their licensing fees. Director General of
NBC, Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja
yesterday.
According to him, most Television and Radio station operators have failed to
pay up their licensing fees over the years because they always run to Aso Rock
to seek help to evade payment. He said that era is over as the commission will
henceforth not tolerate such political interference in carrying out its duties.He also disclosed that TV and radio stations that have been issued licenses but have failed to come on air within the mandatory two years of kickoff will also have their licenses revoked.
“Over
the past two weeks, I gave directive that the licenses of 54 companies issued licenses
but had refused to pay their fees within the mandatory 60-day window be
revoked. And those licenses are revoked.
There is another list of over 120 licenses
that were paid within the mandatory period but were unable to come on air,
within the mandatory two years; they are also being processed for revocation.
And they will be revoked. Frequencies cannot be held indefinitely by
individuals.
We are delighted that Nigerians are investing
in setting up radio and television stations; they create jobs; open up accesses
for content producers to showcase talents and are contributing to national
development.
But no
one has a right to hold on to allocated frequencies indefinitely, when the
resource itself is finite and there are other people waiting and ready to make
use of those frequencies.”
Kawu
also gave television and radio stations owing the commission about N5 billion
as license fees a deadline of March to pay up or be shut down.
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