Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has suspended the revocation of the operating licenses of 53 broadcast stations owing various sums in licensing fees.
The commission had earlier revoked the broadcast licences of Silverbird TV, AIT, Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM amongst others over failure to renew their license amounting to N2.66billion.
Meanwhile, in a circular released on Friday through Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, NBC Director-General, the commission said the decision was taken due to positive responses and reactions from the affected stations.
It said, for example, the Kwara Government had settled the N22.5million outstanding Licence Fee to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which accumulated since 2006.
Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq gave the approval for the immediate payment of the debt to the commission.
This had been contained in a statement issued in Ilorin on Wednesday by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Ayobami Ashaolu.
The statement reads, “The National Broadcasting Commission on Friday, August 19, 2022, issued a shutdown notice to licensees that are indebted to the Commission.
“Following the ultimatum, the Commission received positive responses from the debtor Licensees, including big players in the broadcast industry.
“Sequel to a follow-up meeting held with Executives of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), and other critical Stakeholders in the industry, the Commission has decided to temporarily suspend the shutdown of the indebted Broadcast stations all over the Country.
“We express our profound appreciation to the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, the affected licensees and Broadcast Stakeholders for their responses and interventions. We, specifically, thank DAAR Communications Ltd and Silverbird TV/Rhythm FM for their responses.
“The Commission is not unaware of the difficulties this shutdown must have caused the operators and other stakeholders, but must state that the Commission will always operate within the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap. N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004.”
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK