By Mustapha Salisu
HOTPEN – The National Broadcasting Commission NBC has reacted to the directives of shutting down of some Broadcast stations by Zamfara state government on Saturday by pointing it as an illegal directive.
This was contained in a statement signed and made a disclosure to newsmen by the Director-General of NBC, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah.
The DG added that the State Government has been requested to reverse the directives and apologise to the people of the State.
“The NBC has clearly notified the State Government of the gravity of the illegality and requested it to expeditiously reverse the directives and apologise to people of the State,” he said.
Ilelah explained that Security Agencies have been urged to ignore the call to restrict staff of the affected stations from conducting their legitimate duties.
The DG vows that the Commission will not relent in discharging its mandate according to the NBC Act, CAP. NII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“All broadcast holders are urged to ensure strict compliance and avoid ANY action inimical to democratic governance and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria” the Act reads.
It would be recalled that earlier on Saturday , the Zamfara state government ordered the shutting down of some Broadcast stations in the State which includes: the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Gusau and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)’s Pride FM.
Others are Gamji TV, Gamji FM and Al umma TV which are privately operated.