In lieu of the controversial ban which they had slammed on some some media houses in the country, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has come to issued a 96-hour ultimatum to the debtor media organisations while threatening more sanctions upon them.
They media housed had been given an ultimatum of August 24, 2022, to make sure that they pay and clear all their outstanding debts too.
Read Also: NUJ Blasts NBC For Revoking Licenses Of Silverbird, Others
The Director-General of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah had announced this in a statement he issued on Saturday in Abuja.
Ilelah said the extension followed an appeal by the broadcast stations, stakeholders, public-spirited individuals, and organisations. The commission noted that the deadline was moved to give those affected more time.
“All affected broadcast stations who fail to defray their debts on or before Aug. 23, 2022, are directed to shutdown by 12a.m. on Aug. 24, 2022,” the DG said.
NBC had on Friday revoked the licenses of the AIT/Ray Power FM (DAAR Communication), Silverbird TV Network, and 50 others over N2.6billion debts.
The commission directed its offices nationwide to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure immediate compliance.
In another report, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has openly come out to fully condemn the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast stations in Nigeria.
NUJ’s National President, Chris Isiguzo had also lamented that the NBC’s decision was hasty, ill-timed and reckless.
NBC had announced that it would be revoking the broadcast licences of Silverbird TV, AIT, Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM, amongst others.
The Director-General of the NBC, Mallam Balarabe Shehu, who had made the disclosure this Friday, said the development followed the failure of the media houses to renew their broadcast licences.
