The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has cautioned broadcasters against bullying guests, misusing broadcast platforms and violating professional standards as political activities begin to build toward the 2027 general elections.
In a statement, the commission expressed concern over what it described as a growing rise in breaches of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code across news, current affairs and political programmes.
The NBC said some broadcast platforms had drifted from their core responsibility of promoting public awareness with accuracy, fairness and professionalism, adding that it would now adopt a firmer enforcement stance.
“As we approach the 2027 General Elections, the Commission, hereby, notifies all broadcasters and stakeholders that it will enforce strict and uncompromised compliance with every provision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, particularly, those relating to fairness, balance, accuracy, hate speech, incitement and respect for constitutional bodies.”
The commission also raised concern over declining professionalism among presenters and anchors, citing repeated violations of ethical standards expected in broadcasting.
Quoting Section 1.10.3 of the code, the NBC stated that “the broadcaster shall ensure that its presenter does not express his or her opinion in the programme, as a matter of professional standard.”
It also cited Section 3.3.1(b), which provides that “all sides to any issue of public interest are equitably presented for fairness and balance,” while Section 3.4.1(b) requires that “all sides to an issue are equitably presented, preferably in the same broadcast.”
The commission further referenced Section 5.3.3(b), which states: “The broadcaster shall, in using political materials for news and current affairs programme, avoid hate speech, inflammatory, derogatory and divisive remarks or allusions.”
NBC said it was equally concerned about how guests are treated during programmes, warning against intimidation, harassment and a lack of neutrality by moderators.
On political content, the commission said it had observed a growing pattern of violations involving different political parties and actors.
Part of the statement read, “Section 3.1.1 ‘No broadcast shall encourage or incite to crime and lead to public disorder or hate be repugnant to any person or organization alive or dead or generally be disrespectful to human dignity.
“Section 3.11.1(a)- ‘language or scene likely to encourage or incite to crime, or lead to disorder is not broadcast.
“Section 5.4.1(f)- ‘the broadcaster shall not transmit divisive materials or compromise the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state.
“Section 3.11.1(b) – ‘…no programme contains anything which amounts to subversion of constituted authority or compromises the unity or corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign state.
“Section 5.5.1(b)- ‘The broadcaster shall exhibit professionalism in handling the transmission especially sensitive issues as politics, communal conflicts and wars.”
The commission warned that going forward, any anchor or presenter found to have “expressed personal opinion as fact, bullied or intimidated a guest, or denied fair hearing to opposing views” would be held accountable.
The warning comes as political alignments, debates and public engagement ahead of the 2027 elections continue to intensify, placing increased attention on the role of the media in ensuring credible, balanced and responsible democratic discourse.
