The Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Balarabe Ilelah, announced on Tuesday that the commission has sent a bill to regulate social media to the national assembly. During a meeting with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Ilelah revealed that the existing law does not empower NBC to regulate social media. The proposed bill aims to amend the NBC Act, CAP L11 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, addressing the transition to digital broadcasting, ensuring quality audio and video, managing the spectrum efficiently, regulating social media, and other related matters. Ilelah emphasized the need for legal authority to address social media challenges, stating that the absence of such authority allows the issue to persist as a significant concern in the country. He also highlighted the commission's preference for negotiation and understanding over sanctions but affirmed its right to penalize broadcasters when necessary. In 2023, the NBC issued 1,238 warnings and penalized six different stations. The information minister urged collaboration between the NBC and the media to foster a cooperative relationship and avoid viewing the commission as punitive.
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