The federal government of Nigeria has begun putting in place legal frameworks to enable it regulate the online media.
Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture, said he will immediately commence the process of forwarding an Executive Bill for consideration of the Federal Executive Council and further legislative action.
He said the bill will address what he described as existing lacuna in the areas of the regulation of the Internet, ongoing Digital Switch Over, Digital Access Fee, and insulation of the regulator from partisan politics.
Mohammed said this when he received a report of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) reform implementation committee on tuesday, the report which he recalled includes recommendations already approved by president Muhammadu Buhari.
Mohammed also disclosed that the government will immediately mandate the NBC to review it’s Act and come up with regulations for the broadcast of content on the Internet and the web to ensure that those who provide broadcast services on the Internet “do so with responsibility”.
Mohammed said the regulations will not in any way gag the press or hinder their universal role of providing valuable information to the citizenry.
Hw noted that the report from the Committe will revolutionize the NBC adding that there is the urgent need to come up with regulations that will address existing challenges.
The minister further said the Commission will be mandated to amend it’s broadcast Code, through new regulations to reflect the upward review of fines from N500,000 to N5 million for breaches relating to hate speeches, inciting comments and indecency as approved by Buhari.
He said the code will also be amended to reflect the upgrade of breach of political comments relating to hate speeches and divisive comments to ”Class A” offence in the Code and to ensure that wilful repeat of infractions on three occasions after levying fine on a station attracts suspension of license.
To address monopoly in the broadcast industry, Mohammed said the NBC will immediately come out with fresh regulations that will promote the local broadcast industry and protect the Nigerian broadcast industry from monopolistic tendencies.
“These regulations are also in the area of advertising tariffs and production of advertisements in Nigeria. The regulations will also ensure that all anti competitive behaviors are deterred and sanctioned where they occur”, he added.
Mohammed informed that the government will commence the process for the acquisition of modern broadcast equipment for the Commission for the purpose of monitoring and enforcement. He added that the government will also commence the process of beefing up the material, training and manpower needs of the Commission.
He however assured that the government will be taking action to ensure that the approval of broadcast licences aligns with the government’s efforts on the Ease of Doing Business.
Godsgift Onyedinefu, Abuja
