The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has accused Kano State governor Kabir Yusuf of muzzling free speech and usurping the role of Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) following the recent ban on live broadcast of political activities in the state.
The Kano State Government had, last week, banned live political programmes and prohibited journalists from asking what it called “provocative” questions during live media interviews.
In a statement issued after a meeting with media executives in the state, Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Waiya, issued a ban on live political programmes across all media platforms in the state.
According to the statement, anyone invited to appear on air for interviews must sign an undertaking to be cultured and well behaved on air. He or she must avoid making abusive, defamatory, or culturally offensive remarks on air.
It equally prohibited presenters from asking what the government describes as “provocative questions” or using suggestive gestures that could elicit controversial responses or blemish the image of the state.
Reacting to the development, NBA said that the action, allegedly aimed at curbing “inflammatory, divisive, and defamatory content,” is not only ill-advised but entirely unconstitutional.
In a statement issued by the NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN) via its X handle on Friday, the association said that “no state government has the legal competence to regulate or censor broadcast content in Nigeria.
That responsibility, according to the body of lawyers, lies squarely with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), established by the NBC Act, to ensure that broadcast content aligns with national standards and constitutional provisions”, NBA stated.
“The NBC Code already provides a comprehensive framework for regulating broadcasting, including mechanisms for addressing inappropriate or harmful content. If any station is found in breach of these guidelines, only the NBC, not state governments, is empowered to take corrective action.
“This unilateral action by the Kano State Government amounts to a gross violation of Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to receive and impart information and ideas without interference.
“Attempting to suppress live political programs under the guise of maintaining public order sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the vibrancy of political discourse, transparency, and accountability. It also undermines media independence and public access to information, especially in a democratic society where the free exchange of ideas is non-negotiable.”
The NBA demanded for the immediate reversal of the directive and urged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to reassert its regulatory authority to prevent future usurpation of its powers by state governments.
NBA reaffirmed its resolved determination in defending the rule of law and constitutional freedom It added that “Nigeria cannot afford to slide into an era where probing voices are silenced, and lawful expressions are criminalized”.
