Hate Speech: Penalise sponsors, not media alone – Prof. Iredia

A media scholar, Professor Tony Iredia has advised the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to give priority to professional broadcasters in its recruitment process.

This became imperative to improve its watchdog role in checkmating hate and dangerous speech in the broadcast industry.

Professor Iredia who reviewed the report on the escalation of hate and dangerous speech in the 2015 General Elections, affirmed that the report was not exhaustive as it focused only on the opposition and should be expanded to include ruling parties in future elections.

The don maintained that the NBC should henceforth penalise not only the medium of broadcast but the senders of hate and dangerous speech as it is a criminal offence.

Professor Iredia, a one-time Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, identified partisanship and lack of autonomy as factors hindering NBC from carrying out its mandate effectively.

Akinyinka Akintola