The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has criticised the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over its recent directive to broadcasters.
The NBC had said it has observed a rise in violations of the sixth edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code across news, current affairs and political programmes.
The union warned that presenters who express personal opinions as facts or bully guests on air will face sanctions.
NUJ National Secretary, Achike Chude, in a statement on Monday, described the warning as “a veiled attempt to gag the media and institutionalise censorship”.
The union said it viewed NBC’s notice with “grave concern and utter disappointment”, adding that the directive threatens free speech and editorial independence in Nigeria’s media space.
The NUJ said the NBC’s position on anchors expressing personal opinions and its push for a crisis-free presentation style amount to “direct interference in the internal editorial processes of independent media houses”.
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“Journalism, particularly in the realm of current affairs and political analysis, requires robust engagement,” the statement reads.
“To strip presenters of their right to analyze and contextualize news is to reduce the Nigerian media to a mere mouthpiece.”
The union also raised concerns about what it described as vague regulatory provisions, warning that the classification of such actions as “Class B breaches” with penalties including fines or suspension could intimidate journalists and stifle critical reporting.
“This regime of fear encourages self-censorship, where journalists are too afraid to ask tough questions for fear of being labelled ‘unprofessional’ or ‘hostile’ by a regulatory body that has increasingly become a political tool,” the statement added.
The NUJ reminded the commission that Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees the freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.
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“The NBC Code cannot and must not be used to override the supreme law of the land. The government has a duty to ensure that regulatory agencies like the NBC are not weaponized against the media,” Chude said.
“We call on all journalists and broadcasters to remain resolute, professional, and fearless. Your duty is to the public and the truth, not to the whims of any regulatory agency.
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“The media is the watchdog of society, not the lapdog of the government and opposition. Any attempt to break the screen or silence the microphone is an attack on Nigerian democracy itself.”
