The 76th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria BON held on Wednesday, 23rd March,2022 at Johnwood Hotel, Abuja has ended with a communique highliting major issues affecting the Broadcasting Industry and the nation in general.
Critical Issue on the front burner was the harsh economic environment with attendant problems of erratic power supply, devaluation of the naira, and high cost of petroleum products which it said hampers operations of its organisations.
It warned that TV and Radio stations might be forced to shut down If the unbearable economic situation in the country continue unabated.
The Communique read:
(1) The 76th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) was held from Tuesday 22nd -Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 at JohnWood Hotel, Wuse Zone 5,Abuja, FCT.
(2) The General Assembly which was attended by over one hundred members and fifty participants was preceded by the Digital Media Convention with the theme “ Bringing Society Together with Vibrant Digital Media Services”, brought together all stakeholders in the Media Industry within and outside the country including National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC), Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Film Corporation, National Film and Video Censors Board, Advertising Agencies, Media Independents and host of others.
(3). Technical papers were presented by experts on Delivering High Quality Broadcasting Service for the Nigerian Public, How we did it in Ghana: Securing our digital migration with Adequate Funding-Lessons from our Experiences and Knowing our Audience. Panellists drawn from stakeholders discussed the papers presented to better educate and inform participants for a better and sustainable Digital migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.
(4) The General Assembly painstakingly reviewed the various issues affecting the Broadcasting Industry in particular and the nation in general.
After serious deliberations, the General Assembly in session noted the following:
(i) The unbearable economic environment under which the Broadcast Media operate in the country caused by:
(a).The epileptic public power supply,
(b). High cost and scarcity of diesel and petrol.
(c). Devaluation of the value of Naira.
(ii) The allocation to the Telecom Operators the C-Band 3.6-4.6 Spectrum for the 5G deployment, which is primarily devoted for Broadcasting services worldwide.
(5) The General Assembly called on the Federal and States Governments to:
(a) Synergise and proffer lasting solutions to the harsh economic environment by introducing policies that would make investment more profitable and make the economy more stronger.
(b) Reinvigorate the public power sector with a view to find immediate solutions to the perennial problem of public power supply that have made many International investors to relocate from Nigeria to neighbouring countries and have crippled all levels of industry be it large, medium or small scale.
(c) The Central Working Committee has been directed to engage the government on the excruciating economic environment as it affects the Broadcast Media operations.
(d) Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria is alerting the country that TV and Radio stations may have no option but to shut down or reduce hours of broadcast if concrete steps are not urgently taken to arrest the worsening economic situation and its negative impact on the Broadcast media industry.
(e) That the National Broadcasting Commission should as a matter of urgency engage the stakeholders on the issues relating to consequences of allocating the C-Band spectrum primarily reserved to Broadcasting world over to Telecom operators in Nigeria.
(f) BON will continue to use various platforms of its members to provide necessary public awareness and enlightenment on issues of public interest most importantly on the coming General elections.
g) The General Assembly noted with gladness efforts of BON Secretariat on resuscitation of Society of Nigerian Broadcasters .It equally noted the wide acceptability of the professional body by serving and retired Broadcasters.
The Secretariat was mandated to organise inductions for the first batch of members.
APPRECIATION.
(1) The General Assembly in session appreciates the Hon Minister of Information and Culture for presenting a Keynote Address at the opening ceremony of the 76th General Assembly.
(2) In the same manner, expressed gratitude to the Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, APCON Registrar, Digiteam Chairman, Head of Advertising Sector groups and indeed all that attended and participated in the Digital Media Convention as well as the opening ceremony of the General Assembly.
(3) Gratitude was equally extended to Multichoice Nigeria Limited and Broadcast Media Africa for the sponsorship and partnership respectively.
Communiqué Drafting Committee
(1) Ven.Nelson D.Fadoju JP,Esq.-Chairman.
GM/CEO,EKI 100.9 FM,Ondo City.
(2) Mrs.Amber Olague-Secretary.
ITV/Radio,Abuja.
(3) Hajia Fatima Abubakar-Member.
Tozali TV,Abuja.
(4) Umar Ramallan – Member.
Liberty TV.
Dr, Yemisi Bamgbose
Executive Secretary
