Editors to NBC: Threat to Sanction Broadcasters is Assault on Press Freedom

The Nigerian Guild of Editors has condemned a reported plan by the National Broadcasting Commission to sanction broadcast presenters for allegedly passing off opinions as facts or bullying guests on air, calling it a “direct assault” on press freedom.

In a statement Monday, NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh said the move was “dangerous and injurious to journalism” and would undermine editorial independence and democratic accountability.

The Guild acknowledged the NBC’s stated goal of promoting professionalism but warned that the commission’s “vague and broadly worded” threat was open to abuse. Such ambiguity, it said, could be “selectively applied or misinterpreted” to target journalists doing legitimate work.

At issue is the interpretation of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code on news, current affairs and political programmes. The NGE argued that allowing the NBC to act as “sole arbiter” of what counts as rigorous questioning or appropriate scrutiny “opens the door to potential abuse.”

“This approach risks weaponizing the broadcasting code to induce self-censorship among broadcasters, stifle legitimate journalistic inquiry, and silence critical voices,” the statement read.

The editors’ body insisted that the role of presenters, especially during interviews, is to “ask probing questions, challenge inconsistencies, and demand clarity in the public interest.”

“Journalism is not designed to place public officials or interviewees in a comfort zone, but to hold power accountable,” the NGE said.

With another election cycle approaching, the Guild argued that the media must intensify its watchdog role. “Citizens rely on the media for accurate and comprehensive information to make informed decisions and carry out their civic responsibilities. This responsibility demands that journalists ask tough, even uncomfortable, questions in the public interest.”

While affirming professionalism and civility, the NGE stressed: “Democracy does not thrive on timid journalism, but on bold, responsible, and fact-driven interrogation of issues and personalities.”

It reminded regulators that journalists are “not lawbreakers” but “trained professionals guided by enduring ethical standards, including the principle that ‘comment is free, but facts are sacred.’”

The Guild urged regulatory bodies to work within “clearly defined, transparent, and fair frameworks that do not undermine the independence of the media.” It called on the NBC to “demonstrate impartiality and restraint” and distinguish between genuine misconduct and the rightful exercise of journalistic duty.

“In the face of such threats, the Nigerian press will not be intimidated,” the statement concluded. “We remain resolute in our commitment to ask tough questions, report facts, and provide analysis without fear or favour.”

The NBC had not publicly responded to the NGE’s statement at press time Monday.