Notice is hereby given to all licensees of television stations, Producers of Television Programmes and the General Public to the regulation on Local Content as follows:

 

 

Henceforth, any station found to be in breach of the above provisions would be sanctioned as prescribed in the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

 

SANCTIONS PROCEDURE

This regulation is without prejudice to other provisions of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code. However, these additional provisions shall also apply:

First violation shall attract a fine in the sum of N500,000.00, payable within 14 days of notice.

Second violation shall in addition to a fine of N1,000,000.00 lead to a forfeiture of one hour on family belt during which the station shall scroll the Commission’s prescribed message only. 

Further breach shall necessitate a reduction of daily broadcast hours of the station.

Any further violation may lead to the suspension of license.

 

WHAT IS NIGERIAN LOCAL CONTENT?

Local content is as spelt out in sections 3.12.1 (a – e) – 3.13.1 and 2 of the Code

Unless there is a strong editorial justification, programmes and advertisements during the family belt shall be devoid of:

i.         Sex or overt sexual behaviour;

ii.        Nudity

iii.       Violence (verbal or physical);

iv.        Bloodletting

v.         Smoking;

vi.        Alcohol;

vii.       Drug abuse;

viii.      Denigration of Womanhood;

ix.        Offensive, lewd and vulgar language, expression and presentation;

x.         Exorcism, occult practices and the paranormal (which purport to be real)

 

Advertisements shall be guided according to the provisions as stated in section 7 of the Code and be in conformity with already stated standards prescribed for content.

 

The period between the hours of 7pm and 10pm daily, generally regarded as Family Belt, is the period when the family, as a unit, is most likely to be together to watch television. In recognition of the right of stakeholders to quality broadcasting, the family deserves good quality programmes that are ennobling and engender cohesion.

The cardinal responsibility of broadcasting to inform, educate and entertain, should not be at the expense of national interest, unity and cohesion of Nigeria’s diverse social, cultural, economic, political and religious configurations, as stated in section 0.3.1 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code; a provision which stations have over the years flagrantly neglected.

 

            Family: The smallest unit of a society comprising:

i.          Parents, their children and their relations;

ii.         A group of related persons;

 

Family Belt on Terrestrial Television:

The period between the hours of 7 pm – 10 pm daily is the Family Belt on

terrestrial television;

           

              National Interest as relates to broadcasting should be programmes that:

i.            Make Nigerians proud of themselves;

ii.           Project unique attributes of Nigerians;

iii.          Promote unity and peace;

iv.          Showcase the rich variety of cultures and people of Nigeria.

 

                                ...Your Right to Quality Broadcasting.