The Guild will not stand by and watch media houses being threatened by regulatory agencies in the country.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned “in strong terms” the suspension of the nation’s foremost television news station – Channels TV by the National Broadcasting Commission.
The commission had earlier on Monday announced the suspension of the TV station with a fine of N5 million for an alleged breach of the broadcast code.
The NBC alleged that the TV station erred by allowing a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to make secessionist and inciting declarations without caution.
In its reaction, the nation’s guild of editors vehemently kicked against the suspension stating that “Press freedom is threatened when media houses are made to operate in an atmosphere of fear.”
This was expressed in a statement signed by the NGE president, Mustapha Isah and its General Secretary, Mary Atolagbe and made available to newsheadline247.
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Read the full statement below;
PRESS STATEMENT ON NBC LETTER TO CHANNELS TV
The Nigerian Guild of Editors condemns in strong terms the threat issued to Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, over an interview with the spokesperson of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Emmanuel Powerful.
Powerful had featured on Channels programme “Politics Today” on Sunday, April 25, 2021, where he allegedly made inciting statements.
The NBC in the letter ordered the immediate suspension of the programme.
The Guild will not stand by and watch media houses being threatened by regulatory agencies in the country.
Press freedom is threatened when media houses are made to operate in an atmosphere of fear.
The Guild stands with Channels and will go to any length to defend press freedom in the country.
The body of editors believes that the NBC is guilty of double standards because stations that carried Sheikh Gumi’s parley with terrorists in their camps, were not sanctioned by the commission.
The NBC should jettison the practice of issuing threats to broadcast stations over matters that could easily be dealt with through dialogue.
Democracy will be meaningless in Nigeria if press freedom is eroded.
Mustapha Isah,
President,
NGE
Mary Atolagbe,
General Secretary,
NGE
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