Shutdown Extension: NBC gives AIT, Silverbird, and others more time to pay

Image: National Daily Newspaper

After pressure from individuals and groups, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) granted the 52 media houses whose licenses were revoked soft-landing by extending the shutdown order imposed on them.

On Friday, Nollywood Times broke the news that NBC Director-General, Malam Balarabe Ilelah, announced that 52 stations were ordered to shut down within 24 hours over a debt of N2.6 billion.

Following the order, many Nigerians and groups knocked NBC for such a harsh decision pointing out that the order was not properly timed.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) opposed the commission, saying that despite the fact that the commission claimed the shutdown order was not politically motivated, it was both ill-timed and reckless.

Likewise, the Nigerian Guild of Editors expressed their displeasure over the sanction and called for an urgent reversal by NBC.

The NGE released a statement via its President, Mustapha Isah, and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, that the action should be reversed or else it would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs nationwide, and jobs are scarce.

Consequently, in a statement on Saturday, the NBC said that after considering the call and intervention of Concerned Groups and visible concerted efforts by some defaulting Licensees to offset their debts, it had extended the deadline to 6 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

“This is to inform all the affected broadcast stations whose licenses were revoked and given 24 hours to pay all outstanding license fees that the National Broadcasting Commission has extended the period which all outstanding debts are to be paid from 24 hours to Wednesday, August 23, 2022.”

“All affected broadcast Stations who fail to defray their debts on or before August 23, 2022, are directed to shut down by 12 AM on August 24, 2022. This extension is due to the appeal by the affected Broadcast Stations, relevant stakeholders, public-spirited Individuals, and Organizations.”

Source: dailytrust.com

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#AIT

#Silverbird TV