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Raymond Dokpesi, Daar Group Founder
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has discarded the suspension imposed on Daar Communication, operator of AIT and Ray Power.
This was a sequel to the aggreement reached by the broadcasting watchdog and Daar group after the intervention of media industry stakeholders on Sunday, June 10.
Director General of the NBC, Malam Isaq Modibbo Kawu, announced the settlement on Friday.
The settlement, he however said, is based on fulfillment of some conditions.
Recall that Scooper reported earlier how the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) waded into the raging conflict which caused the broadcasting regulatory agency, NBC, to ban the two of the Nigeria's largest private broadcasters from operating Thursday, June 6, 2019.
Reasons provided by the NBC for suspending the license included: the inability of DAAR Communications to pay the license renewal fees, hate speeches, using and allowing the AIT and Ray Power to be used for selfish political ends, amongst other breach of professional codes.
AIT’s conduct had become “a bad example of how a professional broadcast outfit should not be run,” NBC's boss, Modibbo Kawu said, while announcing the suspension.
Modibbo Kawu
But NPO, which comprises media stakeholder bodies like the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), The Nigerian Guild of Editors ( NGE) and The Nigerian Union of Journalists ( NUJ) – convened a meeting of all parties to resolve the issues in national interest.
In a statement released after the reconciliatory meeting, the NPO's President, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, said the parties resolved that “DAAR Communications Plc. will work out a new realistic payment plan with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and ensure prompt payments in accordance with the new plan;
“DAAR Communications Plc. will appoint an Ombudsman to ensure balance in its news coverage especially political commentary; it will also take full editorial responsibility for the use of content sourced from social media outlets;
“ Following this NPO statement, The NBC will immediately lift the suspension of the broadcast license of DAAR Communications Plc;
“ DAAR Communications Plc. will withdraw its case in court, against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and;
“ All parties will take necessary steps to work together to build confidence in the public interest.”
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