Politics

Media, Key to Success of Electoral Laws’ Provision on Physically Challenged- Forum

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On February 25, 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the new electoral act amendment bill.

The electoral law aims at standardizing the nation’s electoral process by ensuring sanity and transparency in the coming elections.

For this goal to be achieved, there is the need for key actors especially the media and political parties to understand the provisions of the law to guide their performance.

It was on this basis that stakeholders in the electoral process held a virtual roundtable to critically examine the new electoral law to enhance the capacity of the media and other relevant institutions before, during and after the elections.

Convener of the parley and Executive Director, Institute for Media and Society, IMS, Dr Akin Akingbulu explained that the forum was in line with the framework of European Union support to democratic project phase 2:which seeks to strengthen participatory democracy in Nigeria with special focus on the media which is an important component.

“This is important because electoral legislation provides the framework of performance of roles by actors and institutions in the electoral process which includes the media”.

Participants delved into five key sections of the electoral law including section 54, sub-section 1 which gives adequate recognition to people with disabilities, special needs and the vulnerable, section 92, sub-sections 1-5 which prohibits incisive conduct at political campaigns and section 94 subsection 1 which outlines limitation on political broadcast and campaign by political parties 

The forum equally examined section 95 sub-sections 1&2 and section 96.

Participants dwelt extensively on the section that affects persons with disabilities.

Executive Director, Institute for Media and Society, Dr Akin Akingbulu said it would be good if the needs of persons with disabilities were adequately met as stipulated by the law.

Representative of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mrs Stella Erhuumse harped on the need for the media to create awareness on the provisions of the electoral law for persons with disabilities and special needs for their active participation during elections.

“It is the expectation of the National Broadcasting Commission that between now and time for the elections,the media would have done a lot in educating the electorate on this particular provision so that those who are visually impaired and incapacitated would know how they can function during the election “.

In the view of Professor Babatunde Ojebuyi from the University of Ibadan, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  must put in place certain measures that would encourage and make voting convenient for persons with disabilities.

“For example , INEC should try and produce a separate list at every polling unit for the physically challenged and when they get there, that is where they should go.They should not be listed among other people, otherwise they may be overcrowded, overpowered and they may not have the visibility that we want to give them”.

Lending his voice, the Acting Head of Journalism Department, Lagos State University Dr Tunde Akanni, suggested that INEC should make it possible for the physically challenged to cast their votes at any polling unit nearest to them.

“INEC has its data online in the cloud. All the INEC officials at any of these polling unit needs to do is just ask them for their names, and check up whether they are registered at all and it will bring out their names”.

While examining other sections of the law, another participant, Uzo Enwurum, expressed concern that many political campaigns were characterised by hate speeches despite the prohibition of such by the electoral law.

Reacting to perceived domineering attitude of any  government in power during electioneering,  a member of the academia, Professor Taye Obateru, advised the media to be guided by the provisions of law while performing their duties and not on assumption.

“As professionals, should also try as much as possible not to censor ourselves based on assumptions that our employers or party in power will not be happy with us when we do certain things. Let us be seen to be trying our best to give every party equal opportunity”.

It was also the consensus of participants that adequate security is provided at polling units for all eligible voters .

Olaitan Oye-Adeitan.

Lifestyle

Uphold professionalism in all you do – NBC charges Broadcast Stations

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Broadcast stations have been told to always uphold professionalism in their contents.

The new State Coordinator of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, in Ondo State, Mrs Olubunmi Kehinde gave the charge when she paid a familiarization visit to Positive FM Akure.

Mrs Kehinde who explained that NBC was not created to witch-hunt any broadcast station but to guide, regulate and checkmate their daily activities within the NBC codes.

She commended Radio Nigeria for being a model in broadcasting in terms of news reportage and programming.

Mrs Kehinde reminded broadcast stations of the need to shun partisan politics, unapproved music and inciting words especially as the 2023 elections draw nearer.

While welcoming the New NBC Coordinator to the state, the General Manager, Positive FM, Akure, Mrs Olubunmi Olalere appreciated the NBC for carrying out its duties but advocated training and retraining of content creators to enable them function within the NBC rules and regulations.

Mrs Olalere said Radio Nigeria known for “Uplifting the People And Uniting the Nation” would continue to uphold professionalism.

Oluwatosin Ighoteguono

Entertainment

We will work towards the allocation of Choice FM’s frequency – NBC ZD

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The Management of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Ibadan Zonal Station has appealed to the leadership of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to approve the long-awaited frequency for Choice F.M., Ota, to enable the station to commence its broadcast operation.

The FRCN management led by the Zonal Director, Mrs Bolatito Joseph explained that the frequency allocation and approval became necessary in view of the information, entertainment and education needs of Ota residents.

Mrs Joseph who said the courtesy visit was meant to strengthen the bond between the two institutions, maintained that the FRCN Ibadan would continue to set the pace in excellent broadcasting.

Reacting, the Zonal Director, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Ibadan Zone, Mr Raphael Akpan said Radio Nigeria had been blazing the trail in terms of professional broadcast in the zone.

The NBC boss assured the management of FRCN of NBC’s resolve to work toward meeting the demands of allocating a frequency to Choice FM Ota.

Mr Akpan urged FRCN Ibadan’s management to sustain the professionalism for which the station is reputed.

Rotimi Famakin

Lifestyle

Broadcasters need to be objective, accurate and fair in all they do – NBC ZD

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The quality of an advertisement, programme and news presentation portrays the integrity of the presenter and the station.

The Zonal Director, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mr. Raphael Akpan stated this in Ibadan during the weekly meeting of the Programmes Department of Radio Nigeria, Ibadan National Station held at the Studio One, Broadcasting House, Oba Adebimpe Road, Dugbe, Ibadan.

Mr. Akpan noted that programmes staff should be accurate and objective in their production as it says a lot about the standard of the station.

The acting Zonal Director, Radio Nigeria, Ibadan Zonal Station, Mrs. Bolanle Owoyemi, advised the staff to be mindful of what they produce and package.

Mrs. Owoyemi said the broadcasters should design programmes that would be a standard for all Radio Nigeria stations.

In the same vein, the Deputy Director Programmes, Mrs. Bolatito Joseph said broadcasting was not child’s play as it was mandatory for the broadcasters to uplift the standard of the station.

Mrs. Joseph then appreciated the NBC Zonal Director for the lecture and the Zonal Director, FRCN Ibadan, Mrs. Bolanle Owoyemi for her support.

Funmilola Obagbayegun

Lifestyle

Six Illegal Broadcast Stations To Be Prosecuted – NBC Boss

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National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, is to prosecute operators of six illegal broadcast stations recently shut across the country.

The Director-General of the commission, Professor Armstrong Idachaba made this known in Abeokuta while delivering the fifth-anniversary lecture of a private radio station based in Abeokuta, Sweet F.M.

He stated that illegal operations are being closely monitored and would not be tolerated in the interest of national development.

Professor Idachaba in the lecture entitled private broadcasting; its impact on national development explained that the media in Nigeria is one of the most vibrant in Africa.

He explained that the country currently has four hundred and forty-four (444) radio stations and two hundred and forty-nine (249) television stations with the radio having the highest penetration of ninety-eight point five percent.

Professor Idachaba disclosed that private radio stations have brought multiplicity of choices benefiting the consumers with reduction in price and improving the technology.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Professor Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale in a remark called for the recruitment of trained journalists and on-air personalities by private radio stations.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, represented by Dr Tope Olaifa stressed the importance of training and retraining of those currently working in private radio and television stations in the interest of national development.

Wale Oluokun

Lifestyle

We will not hesitate to revoke the license of erring broadcast stations – NBC

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The National Broadcasting Commission says it will not hesitate to revoke the licence of any broadcast station that dishes out content which tends to malign or denigrate any individual or Political party as the Ondo State governorship election draws nearer.

NBC Director General Professor Armstrong Idachaba stated this at a stakeholders’ meeting on Political broadcast for the Ondo governorship election, holding in Akure.

Professor Idachaba said achieving a peaceful governorship poll depended partly on media organisations and their broadcasters as their contents played a major in respect of this.

He urged broadcasters to produce contents that were decent, devoid of hate speech and decisive rhetoric.

In a paper presentation, a former director, Investigation and Enforcement in the NBC, Mr Femi Ayeni, emphasised the need for media organisations to train and retrain their workers ahead of any election to update them with necessary broadcasting codes and electoral rules.

In separate goodwill messages, representatives of security agencies, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, National Orientation Agency and other stakeholders, urged media houses in Ondo State to avoid sensationalism and any other acts capable of causing security breach before, during and after the October 10 governorship election.

They also made commitments towards achieving a peaceful and credible poll in the sunshine state.

Bardi