NBA Challenges Kano’s Media Regulations, Cites NBC’s Exclusive Authority
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the Kano State Government’s newly announced broadcast regulations, branding them unconstitutional and a violation of free speech.
This week, the Kano State Government unveiled sweeping new rules aimed at controlling the content aired by radio and television stations in the state. Among the directives: a complete ban on live political programming, a requirement that media guests sign undertakings not to make “abusive or defamatory” remarks, and a prohibition on presenters asking “provocative questions” or making gestures that could “damage Kano State’s image.”
According to the state government, these measures were agreed upon after a meeting with media executives and are intended to safeguard cultural and religious values.
But the NBA isn’t buying it.
In a strongly worded statement issued Thursday, NBA President Afam Osigwe described the move as “ill-advised” and “entirely unconstitutional,” warning that it poses a serious threat to democratic freedoms.
“No state government has the legal competence to regulate or censor broadcast content in Nigeria,” Osigwe declared. “That responsibility lies squarely with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as established by the NBC Act.”
Citing Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to receive and impart information, the NBA stressed that any attempt to suppress live political discourse under the guise of maintaining public order sets a “dangerous precedent.”
Osigwe emphasized that the NBC already provides a comprehensive regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms to address any inappropriate or harmful content, adding that “unilateral actions by state governments are not only unlawful but risk undermining media independence and public accountability.”
Calling for an immediate reversal of the Kano directive, the NBA urged the National Broadcasting Commission to “reassert its regulatory authority and prevent future encroachments.
