NBA Condemns Shutdown of Badeggi FM by Niger Governor, Urges Prompt Reversal
In a bold statement, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has criticised the Governor of Niger State, Umar Bago, for lacking the legal authority to suspend or revoke broadcast licenses, including ordering the shutdown of Badeggi FM radio station. The association deemed the governor's directive as unconstitutional and an abuse of power that undermines press freedom and democracy.
The NBA's statement comes after Governor Bago ordered the closure of Badeggi FM, alleging that the station incited violence and engaged in unethical broadcasting. However, the NBA and other media and human rights groups argue that any disciplinary actions against broadcast media must follow due process, administered by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the statutory regulator for broadcasting in Nigeria.
The NBA has emphasised that media regulation should adhere to due process and established statutory mechanisms, rather than arbitrary executive orders. The association has also urged the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to disregard any directive that infringes on constitutional rights, particularly those enshrined in Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and media operations.
The Federal Government has backed the NBA's stance, stating that only the NBC can suspend or revoke broadcast licences. The shutdown of Badeggi FM has been widely condemned as a direct threat to press freedom and democratic governance in Nigeria. The NBA and other stakeholders describe the governor's action as executive rascality and an affront to constitutional democracy, potentially chilling independent journalism and restricting the public’s access to diverse information sources.
The NBA’s position underscores the principle that media freedom is a constitutional right and a cornerstone of democracy, which must not be curtailed by arbitrary executive measures. The association calls for an immediate reversal of the closure and urges respect for constitutional and legal frameworks protecting media freedom.
- The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has criticized Tinubu, the Governor of Niger State, for his unconstitutional shutdown of Badeggi FM radio station, a move that is perceived as an abuse of power, undermining press freedom and democracy.
- The NBA has emphasized that Nigeria's policy and legislation regarding media regulation should adhere to due process and established statutory mechanisms, instead of arbitrary executive orders, particularly in cases of crime and justice.
- In the general news, the Federal Government has backed the NBA's stance, stating that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) can suspend or revoke broadcast licenses.
- The NBA and other stakeholders in the politics and legislation field argue that the shutdown of Badeggi FM not only violates press freedom but also poses a potential threat to democratic governance in Nigeria, as it may restrict the public's access to diverse information sources, such as sports updates on basketball and the NBA.
- Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies have been urged to disregard any directive that infringes on constitutional rights, enshrined in Section 39 of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and media operations.
- The NBA's call for an immediate reversal of the closure and respect for constitutional and legal frameworks protecting media freedom highlights the importance of maintaining media freedom as a cornerstone of democratic governance and a constitutional right in Nigeria.