NLC Calls For Downward Review Of Licence Costs For Broadcast Organisations

The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on the National Broadcasting Commission to review the cost of operating licences for broadcast organisations in the country.

NLC President Ayuba Wabba made the call in a statement days after NBC announced the withdrawal of the broadcast licences of more than 50 radio and television stations in the country.

The NBC based its decision on the failure of the stations to renew their licences.

But Wabba in his statement said the decision failed to take into account economic challenges that have hurt the operations of the stations, arguing that the stations did not deliberately refuse to renew the licences.

The NLC President acknowledged that the NBC had a regulatory duty in the broadcast industry but stressed that the withdrawal of the licences “is a little too drastic, dramatic, draconian, and debilitating not only for the affected media houses but also for their staff and indeed millions of Nigerians who follow programs from the affected media houses”.

In making a case for the affected media organisations gave examples of the challenges media organisations are battling.

He said, “Many media houses just like most businesses in Nigeria suffer the double jeopardy of escalating business costs and plummeting revenues.