Akwa Ibom asks NBC to review ‘controversial’ code

The Akwa Ibom state government has called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to review the nation’s broadcast code to reflect current day realities in the country.

This charge was made by Ini Ememobong, Akwa Ibom commissioner for information and strategy, while paying an advocacy visit to the Uyo zonal office of the broadcast industry regulator located at information layout off information drive in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital.

Ememobong, who was accompanied by James Edet, director of information in the ministry, as well as Joseph Etem, director of strategy, commended NBC for her regulatory role in the Nigerian broadcast industry and for ensuring that media content conforms with laid down rules while maintaining that there must be a clear distinction between monitoring and censorship hence the need for a review of the broadcast code to accommodate present day realities.

While emphasising that one of the hallmarks of democracy is freedom of speech, Ememobong said in a democratic setting such as ours, contending ideas must be allowed to thrive together therefore, the NBC must not be perceived as infringing upon the right of Nigerians to be heard but ensure that they are heard in a way and manner which does not affect public sanity.

He applauded the long hours the NBC invests in watching and listening to broadcast stations in execution of her monitoring mandate and saluted the management and staff of the Uyo Zonal Office for their commitment to duty.

In his response, Henry Asagba, Uyo zonal director of the NBC, flanked by the Uyo zonal chief monitoring officer, Lucy Nwazue as well as Mekeme, Awele Munche, and Ebere Ora – monitoring officers in the Uyo zonal office of the NBC – expressed the gratitude of NBC for finding time to visit despite his busy schedule.