Despite a court decision prohibiting the commission from fining broadcast stations, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) intends to make N328.9 million via fines and levies.
The budget proposal for Government-Owned Entities (GOEs) for 2024 includes this goal, which THE MATRIX was able to view.
Just around 3% of the commission’s projected N8.27 billion in revenue for 2024 will come from fines. The commission intends to receive N1.09 billion from the government and create N7.18 billion in total revenue.
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Its biggest sources of revenue include licence fees (N4.93 billion) and licence percentage of income (N1.91 billion).
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) sued NBC after it fined Channels, TVC, AIT, and 42 others N500,000 each on March 1, 2019, for allegedly violating the Nigerian broadcasting code.
MRA determined that the commission’s actions breached the right to a fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ratification and Enforcement) Act.
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On May 10, Justice James Omotosho issued an order of perpetual injunction prohibiting NBC from imposing fines on broadcast stations.
The judge also set aside the N500,000 fines levied by the commission on March 1, 2019, on each of the 45 broadcast stations accused of violating its rules.
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Following the delivery of the judgment, NBC further asked the court to set aside the judgment, claiming that it was rendered per incuriam and without jurisdiction.
However, in November 2023, a Federal High Court in Abuja refused the National Broadcasting Commission’s motion for an injunction to set aside its judgement prohibiting the commission from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country.
Despite the restraining order, the commission hopes to achieve its third-highest revenue figure from fines this year
