The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to withdraw what it described as an unlawful directive issued to broadcast stations, warning that failure to comply could trigger legal action.
SERAP, in a letter dated April 18, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the NBC directive amounted to “a dangerous attempt to impose prior censorship on the media and suppress legitimate journalistic expression”.
The group called on the President to instruct the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, as well as the NBC, to immediately withdraw the “formal notice” issued to broadcasters, which it said threatened sanctions against stations and presenters on “vague and unjustified grounds”.
It also urged the Federal Government to refrain from any form of prior censorship on broadcast media and allow journalists to perform their constitutional duties without interference.
According to SERAP, several provisions cited by the NBC were inconsistent with constitutional guarantees on freedom of expression.
“The Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law protect both the absolute right to hold opinions and the qualified right to express ideas of all kinds. Journalistic opinion is protected expression,” the organisation stated.
SERAP also faulted restrictions placed on presenters’ conduct, arguing that “a blanket prohibition on the expression of ‘personal opinions by anchors and presenters’ amounts to an impermissible restriction”.
The organisation further criticised the use of what it described as vague standards such as “professionalism”, warning that such language could be misused.
“The NBC’s reliance on an undefined and subjective standard of ‘professionalism’ introduces vagueness and opens the door to arbitrary enforcement,” SERAP said.
It warned that threats of sanctions against media organisations could have a chilling effect on journalism and public discourse.
“The imposition of punitive measures based on vague and broadly defined infractions creates a chilling effect on broadcasters and undermines democratic discourse,” it added.
SERAP also expressed concern over the timing of the directive, noting that it comes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the NBC’s Formal Notice undermines Nigerians’ democratic rights to receive diverse information, hear competing political viewpoints, and engage in open debate,” the group said.
The organisation gave the Federal Government 48 hours to act on its demand, warning that it would initiate legal proceedings if the directive was not withdrawn.
The NBC had issued the controversial formal notice on April 17, 2026, citing rising concerns over alleged unprofessional conduct in the broadcast industry.
It warned that it would enforce strict compliance with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, including sanctions for violations.
