Reforms In Broadcast Industry To Create Jobs -FG

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has stated that the ongoing reforms in Broadcast Industry is intended to create jobs, promotes local contents among others.

  The Minister had directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately begin implementation of measures aimed at sanitising and re-positioning the broadcast industry.

The Minister’s directive was contained in a statement issued in Abuja and made available to newsmen by Mr Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the President (Media), Office of the Minister.

The minister said the directive became necessary following the submission of the report of the committee set up to work out the modalities for implementing the recommendations approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to re-position the industry.

Recalls that the minister inaugurated the NBC Reform Implementation Committee on October 10, 2019 and the committee chaired by Prof. Armstrong Idachaba submitted its report on November 19.

Mohammed assured that the measures would help in creating jobs, promoting local content, boosting the advert industry and bringing the broadcast industry up to par with the best practices across the world.

He said , “Following my satisfaction with the report which was very professional and detailed, I wish to direct the Commission to take the necessary measures to effect the implementation of the various provisions therein.

“This directive covers the provision for the regulation of the web and online TV/radio; regulation of international broadcasters beaming signals into Nigeria; hate speech; human resource and staff welfare.

“It also covers funding for the reforms implementation; monitoring; independence of the regulator and ease of issuing licenses as well as competition and monopoly issues.’’

The minister noted that the major highlights in the directive included new regulations to compel broadcasters to utilise the content and services of Nigerian independent producers.

He said it was in line with the regulatory requirements for 70 per cent local content, rather than the current abuse of the rules which allow many loopholes for the production of such content in jurisdictions outside Nigeria.

“This will empower local producers with proper funding and investment, enhance foreign collaborations, develop the local industry, raise the standard of local productions and ultimately lead to job creation.

“The new regulations will also ensure that producers of content are paid promptly for adverts and sponsored content placed on all TV, radio and broadcast platforms.

“The regulations will ensure that the production of adverts are localised to create and promote local production and, where it is not localised it will attract a charge every time such an advert is aired, with the charge being put into a fund to help develop local expertise in production,” he said.

For musical content, Mohammed said the new regulation would ensure that broadcasters are prevented from illegal and unpaid use of musical works without payment of the applicable license fees and/or royalties required by music rights owners.

He said similar provisions would prohibit exclusivity of sporting rights in Nigeria, as the new regulation mandated broadcasters and exclusive licensees to share such rights with other broadcasters.

The minister said the break in monopoly would boost reach and also maximise utilisation by all broadcasters of premium content, in order to grow their platforms and investment in other content.

“This regulation prevents the misuse of monopoly or market power or anti-competitive and unfair practices by a foreign or local broadcaster to suppress other local broadcasters in the television and radio markets.

“This is so, having removed exclusivity from all content in Nigeria and mandated the sharing of all content upon the payment of commercially viable fees,’’ he said.

The minister expressed the confidence that the new regulations, due to come into effect January, would re-energises the broadcast industry, deliver real value in the sector and grow the creative industry for the benefit of the practitioners.

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