NIGERIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION AND THE REGULATION OF BROADCASTING MEDIA IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF BROADCAST MEDIA IN ANAMBRA STATE
Francis Nnaemeka Mbuba,
Department of Public Administration,
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus, Anambra
Email: fn.mbuba@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This research work examines censorship of radio and television broadcast in Nigeria-using Anambra State as a study. It is of public notice in Nigeria that the Broadcast Industry has by its conduct in the dissemination of information to the society at large elicited mixed feelings from the members of the public regarding the content of the materials they air. The people hold it in high esteem and indeed eulogize its efforts in striving to inform, educate and entertain the public. But the other side of the coin is not evidently commendable and as such has thrown up public discontent and condemnation. It is true that some of the Nigerian Broadcast Organizations air objectionable programmes, flout the rule concerning time on the broadcast of certain materials and negate the broadcasting of the material’s that serve public interest. This research effort has used both primary and secondary aspects of the survey method to generate the data. Two hypotheses guided the study and data were analyzed using statistical tools. The result show that efforts of the national broadcasting commission have been undone by the disorderly conduct of some of the broadcast organizations who pay little attention to the content of the broadcasting code and fed the public with junk information. It was recommended among others that the commission should do more by setting up a body that would be in charge of monitoring the content of the materials broadcast by the organizations, generate public awareness on the existence of this body that would also receive complaints from the members of the public and report them directly to the commission. The commission should also review the penal aspects of the broadcasting code to ensure that they are qualitative enough to deter the recalcitrant broadcast organizations.
Keyword: Broadcast Media and Broadcast Regulation