The Federal Government is seeking an amendment to the existing National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) law to include internet broadcast and all online media broadcast in the country to enable it to regulate private broadcasting in the country using the internet and other online outlets.
Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday at the National Assembly during a public hearing on a bill to amend the National Broadcasting Act organised by the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values.
“I want to add here specifically, that internet broadcasting and all online media should be included in this because we have a responsibility to monitor content, including Twitter,” he said.
“With due respect, our laws cannot be subservient to international telecommunication union treaties. It is true that we are part of the treaty, but our laws and act cannot be made subservient to any treaty. Treaties are re-made, but our laws will have to protect peculiar situations in our country. So, I will suggest we take another look at this.”
However, the Institute for Media and Society, International Press Centre and Centre for Media Law and Advocacy and other stakeholders in the industry said the inclusion of internet broadcast and online media to the category of broadcast service licenses will be injurious to the civic space, freedom of expression and media freedom.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the contents of the bill will substantially influence the creation of media content in the country, when passed.
